The Service, in partnership with its development partners, recently introduced a new mobile game called “Cranky Uncle Vaccine Game” in Accra. The game is designed to tackle misinformation and disinformation surrounding vaccines.
Mrs. Mabel Asafo, the Acting Director of the Health Promotion Division of the Service, explained that the game is designed to educate the public on the tactics employed to mislead and spread false information about vaccines. It also seeks to provide people with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and protect public health.
The Acting Director emphasized that misinformation has contributed to vaccine skepticism and hesitancy, making it difficult to combat infectious diseases in recent times. She further noted that this misinformation epidemic is not only a danger to individual well-being but also to the collective health of our communities.
Mrs Asafo mentioned that the Service acknowledges that combating misinformation requires a proactive and effective plan rather than just reactive measures. Thus, it is necessary to establish robust monitoring structures to identify and counter potential instances of misinformation promptly. This approach will not only help respond to crises but also prevent them from happening in the first place.
The Director-General of the Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, announced that the launch of the digital game app was not only to introduce it, but also to celebrate the transformative power of digital technology in promoting truth and public health. He emphasized the significance of digital technology in providing a platform for engaging and educating the public about the importance of vaccines and the dangers of misinformation. Dr Kuma-Aboagye acknowledged that the journey towards harnessing the full potential of digital technology in combating vaccine-related misinformation had just begun. He also mentioned the need to continue to innovate, adapt, and leverage emerging technologies to stay ahead of the “purveyors of falsehoods.”
In his concluding statement, the Director-General noted that the launch and dissemination of the game represented a significant milestone in the efforts made to counter vaccine-related misinformation. He advocated for the acceptance of the new era of innovation and collaboration while working together to build a healthier, more informed world for generations to come.
Cranky Uncle Vaccine Game can be downloaded on Google play store and Apple App store.
SOURCE: PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT, GHS
