The Awba-Ofemili Development Union (ADU) Health Committee has called for greater vigilance against health-related misinformation, warning that myths and falsehoods about diseases like buruli ulcer (known locally as elu-ulee) could undermine community health development.
At the Awba-Ofemili Community Health Awareness Campaign 2025 last Thursday in Awba-Ofemili, Anambra State, the Chairman of the ADU Health Committee (AHC), Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke emphasised that misinformation remains one of the biggest threats to public health progress.
Nweke, who is also the Convener of the Awba-Ofemili Health Volunteers Team, said: ‘When people rely on rumours or reject scientific advice, diseases spread faster, lives are lost, and development slows down. Our campaign reinforces that knowledge saves lives, not fear or myths’.
Organised in collaboration with the Office of the President-General of ADU, the state branch of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, and the state Primary Health Care Development Agency, the campaign featured health talks, demonstrations, and free medical checks for residents.
Participants were also educated on the causes, symptoms, and prevention of buruli ulcer, a neglected tropical disease that affects the skin and soft tissues.
The awareness programme witnessed the donation of first aid boxes to community institutions and the establishment of Red Cross chapters in local schools, including Community Secondary School, Awba-Ofemili, a move aimed at promoting a culture of health emergency preparedness among the youth.
According to Nweke, the day’s success demonstrates what can be achieved through collaboration and trust between health professionals, community leaders, and residents.
He commended the ADU leadership, partners, and volunteers for ‘turning a grassroots idea into a model for community health empowerment’.
He cautioned that misinformation, whether from social media, traditional misconceptions, or word of mouth, could easily reverse gains made in public health.
‘We must replace rumours with verified knowledge. Every household must become a source of truth, not fear. This is how we can build a healthier and more resilient Awba-Ofemili’, he stressed.
The event drew participation from medical experts, Red Cross educators, community leaders, teachers, and students, all of whom pledged to carry the campaign message into their respective quarters.
AHC reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining community health education through partnerships, outreach, and follow-up programmes.
