The Challenge of Border Closures, Migrant Mobility and Lack of Believability in Covid-19 Health Campaigns in Nigeria

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The Challenge of Border Closures, Migrant Mobility and Lack of Believability in Covid-19 Health Campaigns in Nigeria

Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a public health emergency since the first cases were reported in Wuhan, China, in the latter part of 2019. Since the outbreak of the virus, different channels of communication have been employed by governmental and non-governmental institutions and organizations to disseminate information on COVID-19 and its prevention to the Nigerian populace. The dissemination has been mainly through social media which has the tendency of hosting and circulating false or distorted information; and predominantly in the English language which may prove a challenge to many. Other challenges that appear to hinder reception and compliance include lack of access to phones, billboard messages, printed documents and other digital resources. The rising cases of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria in the face of sustained campaigns suggests that information channels may be defective. In Nigeria, as in many other African countries, many of the citizens are living in denial of the disease and some conspiracy theorists are encouraging nonadherence to safety and preventive measures through propaganda, distortions and other forms of negative persuasive communication. Using data gathered from interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs), the study analyses the existing communication strategies used in the COVID-19 campaign with a view to advancing reasons why certain channels are defective, and others, more effective in the delivery of information. The study observes that there is a need to move away from country-level channels of communication to more diversified grassroots platforms using newer strategies that would easily be adapted to local needs for communicating not just COVID-19, but other health challenges to the Nigerian populace.

Authors:

  1. Tracie Chima Utoh-Ezeajugh