Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) says journalists have a critical role to play in countering disinformation on Covid-19 issues.
Executive director for the organization MacBain Mkandawire was speaking on the sidelines of media training on Covid-19 reporting which was facilitated by the organization with funding from the International Media Society.
Mkandawire stated that Covid-19 has had an impact on different services among them, mental health and education therefore journalists are better placed to share information on where people can get help.
“There has been a lot of misinformation on Covid-19 where people think when they have gotten the Covid-19 vaccine then you compromise your religion and there are also things that have got to do with pressure on people, the mental health aspect,” he said.
Mkandawire cited the provision of information to young people, social media campaigns and counseling as some of the interventions the organization has implemented amid Covid-19.
“Using the systems that we have, the Tithandizane Helpline we are getting a lot of information to the young people through our SMS system but also allowing young people to call in and asks for more information about that,” he said.
