WHO Now Uses WhatsApp To Provide Answers To COVID-19 Questions

Now you don’t need to access the official website of the World Health Organization to keep yourself updated about the COVID-19 pandemic because WHO is already on WhatsApp. 

At first, the WHO number was checked by the publication who then gave it a stamp of authentication, as reported by The Times of India. The number was also shared by the WHO Uganda Twitter account, but not by the main account of this organization. 

The verified number +41 79 893 18 92 is attached under the name of the World Health Organization. It functions like a newsletter that can be subscribed or registered once you say “Hi”. After registering successfully, users will see plenty of options shown up and they can be chosen by typing the co-relating number in the chat, or literally a chatbot.  

There are various types of information that can be asked, such as asking the latest statistics, how to protect yourself, accessing vetted news and even asking questions on their WhatsApp chat. It is WHO’s successful attempt to eliminate the spread of fake news and information among people relying on WhatsApp to keep themselves updated. Especially, the Mythbusters feature will contribute a lot to their work. 

Furthermore, WhatsApp has started a Coronavirus Information Hub in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF. This useful web page provides readers with pieces of advice, not only on COVID-19 disease but on how to use WhatsApp features to be updated in quarantine time as well. However, WhatsApp’s fight with misinformation does not end there since it announced a donation of $1 million to the Poynter Institute International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).

Big names in the technology field are also fighting in the war against the spread of fake news around the coronavirus pandemic, which includes WhatsApp parent company, Facebook. Together with Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Reddit, Twitter, and Youtube, Facebook will solve the problems related to misinformation and even invite other companies to join them.