District Level Media Monitoring Committee formed to keep tab on misinformation on Coronavirus

March 21: A District Level Media Monitoring Committee has been formed in Hailakandi district of Assam to monitor all news appearing in print and electronic media and posts in social media on Coronavirus and to disseminate information relating to it. A five-member team has been constituted by Joint Director, Health Services, Dr. Ramesh Chandra Dwivedy in pursuance to Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli’s order issued on Friday.

The committee will keep a close tab on the social network as well as print and electronic media to check any misleading report or negative views that is in contravention of government guidelines and protocol. Designating the Joint Director as spokesperson for all health related issues, DC Jalli, in the order, refrained all medical officers and staff from posting any news in the social media nor in the print and electronic media that is likely to give negative impetus to the current initiatives taken by the government on COVID-19 and which may create panic among the people in the district.

Besides the Joint Director, Health Services, the other members of the committee are DPM, NHM, Maruf Alom Barbhuiya, DIPRO cum District Nodal Officer (Coronavirus), Sabir Nishat, Consultant, UNICEF, Dr. Vipin Likhare and DME, NHM, Monika Das.