My Report on the Africa Primary Health Care Forum (APHCF) 2025 Conference: 14th-15th July 2025, Lake Greenfield Hotel, Abuja, Federal Capital of Nigeria.
As previously circulated, it was an honour for me to represent HIFA Forum, as a member of HIFA Steering Group from its inception, standing-in for Dr Pakenham-Walsh, HIFA Moderator, at the Africa Primary Health Care Forum (APHCF) 2025 Conference which held on 14th-15th July 2025, at the Lake Greenfield Hotel, Abuja, Federal Capital of Nigeria.
The very interactive conference with the Theme: ‘Reimagining Primary HealthCare for Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa’ was well attended by delegates and invitees from many African countries including Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and others. There were also participants from countries outside Africa such as the UK, USA, others
My presentation and panel discussion on the Topic: ‘Combating Misinformation and Infodemics’ which was to take place on Day-1, 14th July 2025 was moved to the shorter slot on the second day due to some communication hitch. For this impromptu re-scheduling, I must thank, on behalf of HIFA Forum, Dr Francis Ohanido, DG/CEO, West Africa Institute of Public Health (WAIPH) who organised the conference.
My message was very well received judging by the direct messages that have reached me and the number of new members who have Joined HIFA Forum since. My talk covered the following: i) About HIFA and The global evidence ecosystemi); ii) What is Misinformation, Disinformation, Infodemics, Fake News and Deepfake’; iii) Why do we need to combat Misinformation, Disinformation and Infodemics-Information Disorder; iv) Historical origins of Myths, Misinformation, Disinformation, Infodemics; v) Common myths about Public Health; vi) Consequences of raging ‘Information disorder’ ; vii Combating isinformation by Official and individual actions: strategic, multifaceted approach; viii) Looking Ahead of Print Dis/Misinformation/Fake News: Deepfake and videos; ix) Conclusions and Call to Join HIFA at www.Hifa.org
The concluding slide re-emphasised the following, that: i) A multi-faceted,coordinated approach, globally, is Needed, by both Official government and individual actions; ii) Do not be part of producing or spreading misinformation/Fake News: ‘STOP!, CHECK!, Before Clicking!’; iii) JOIN a global campaign working to save lives and reduce suffering by improving the availability and use of reliable healthcare information; iv) ‘Together, we can stop people dying due to lack of reliable healthcare information’!; v) JOIN HIFA, vist www.hifa.org
(my slides are available on request, as HIFA.org does notcarry attachments.)
Joseph Ana.
HIFA profile: Joseph Ana is the Lead Senior Fellow/Medical Consultant at the Centre for Clinical Governance Research and Patient Safety in Calabar, Nigeria, established by HRI Global (former HRIWA). He is a member of the World Health Organisation’s Technical Advisory Group on Integrated Care in primary, emergency, operative, and critical care (TAG-IC2). As the Cross River State Commissioner for Health, he led the introduction of the Homegrown Quality Tool, the 12-Pillar Clinical Governance Programme, in Nigeria (2004-2008). For sustainability, he established the Department of Clinical Governance, Servicom & e-health in the Cross River State Ministry of Health, Nigeria. His main interest is in whole health sector and system strengthening in Lower, Low and Middle Income Countries (LLMICs). He has written six books on the 12-Pillar Clinical Governance programme, suitable for LLMICs, including the TOOLS for Implementation. He served as Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association’s Standing Committee on Clinical Governance (2012-2022), and he won the Nigeria Medical Association’s Award of Excellence on three consecutive occasions for the innovation. He served as Chairman, Quality & Performance, of the Technical Working Group for the implementation of the Nigeria Health Act 2014. He is member, National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee of the Federal Ministry of Health. He is the pioneer Secretary General/Trustee-Director of the NMF (Nigerian Medical Forum) which took the BMJ to West Africa in 1995. Joseph is a member of the HIFA Steering Group and the HIFA working group on Community Health Workers. (http://www.hifa.org/support/members/joseph-0 http://www.hifa.org/people/steering-group). jneana AT yahoo.co.uk