The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AFAW) has warned Nigerians to take the ravaging coronavirus seriously and stop falling victim to scams.
Leo Igwe, founder of the Nigerian Humanist Movement, gave the warning in an article sent to DAILY POST on Sunday.
The rights activist noted that people believe whatever they hear and have been patronising snake oil and concoction sellers making claims about coronavirus.
The disease has, in less than four months, affected more than 2.3 million people globally and killed 150,000.
Lamenting the level of misinformation, Igwe stressed the importance of sound education, awareness programmes that could enable individuals make responsible decisions, and measures to help them remain safe, healthy and alive.
“AFAW understands the dangers of make-believe and superstitions. It is aware of the huge human costs in situations where people make decisions based on hearsay and claims without evidence,” he said.
The former Western and Southern African representative of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, said the group and other Humanists bodies were supporting the United Nations (UN), Centers for Disease Control and health institutions across the world in tackling misinformation about COVID19.
Igwe cautioned against fake news, especially on the African continent where preventable and curable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis sometimes lead to violent exorcism, witch hunting and killing.
“Many people have not bought into the fact that coronavirus is a real pandemic that could kill them. Instead, some people think that COVID-19 is part of the Chinese and western conspiracy to dominate the world.
“Others believe they have a cure or would not be infected because they are Africans – living in warmer parts of the world. Some are confident that they could tackle the virus using some local concoctions. There have been so much misleading claims and suppositions flying around.
“Many people are desperate and tend to be gullible. Snake oil sellers are taking advantage of the situation. AFAW encourages people to consult medical experts not charlatans and ensure that their decisions are based on scientific evidence and sound medical advice.
“In response to the deluge of misinformation, AFAW urges people to follow the facts not the fiction, the science not the superstition regarding COVID-19. People should scrutinize and critically evaluate all treatment claims”, Leo Igwe added.
