Meta aids Bangladesh govt in Covid response

Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world in 2020, Meta, previously known as Facebook, has connected 2 billion people to resources from health authorities and carried out awareness campaigns on Facebook and Instagram.

The company also supported the Bangladesh government and national health agencies in their Covid-19 response and helped with vaccination roll-out in the country. 

Over the past two years, Meta has been partnering closely with the ICT Division and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh to launch nationwide social media campaigns and make it easier for people to access authoritative health information, reads a press release.

The COVID-19 Information Center, also available in Bangla, connected people to www.corona.gov.bd for the latest government directives and helped them learn about best practices on hygiene and safety measures.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT said, "During the pandemic, Meta provided a platform for Bangladeshis to remain connected to their loved ones and it also helped them stay informed. We thank Meta for the collaboration to amplify reliable health information and help ensure that people have the resources they need to get vaccinated." He added, "As the world becomes increasingly digital, we hope to continue to work together to raise awareness using new technologies to keep people safe."

More than ever before, people are relying on the internet for information and community building.

National health agencies and government campaigns around the world have been using personalised ad campaigns across Meta technologies to raise awareness about Covid-19 and best practices. In Bangladesh, Facebook ads highlighted the national helpline 333, making it easier for people to get support.

In 2021, COVID-19 Vaccine Finder was launched on the platform to help citizens find the nearest vaccination centers as vaccines become available and register through the national vaccine registration portal www.surokkha.gov.bd.

To ensure that people are connected to reliable information, Meta has removed over 24 million pieces of Covid-19 misinformation since the beginning of the pandemic. Last year, it launched a public education campaign (www.fightcovidmisinfo.com) to help Bangladeshis learn how to identify and combat false information online, the release added.

"At Meta, we are committed to use our platform to get reliable information out and encourage people to help each other stay safe. We are happy to continue our partnership with governments around the world to bring communities together, protect people and support essential public health programs," said Sabhanaz Rashid Diya, who leads public policy for Bangladesh at Meta.

Meta has shared a video on their Facebook page that gives an overview of the company's Covid-related efforts in Bangladesh. It shows how their technologies have helped strengthen the government's vaccination efforts and nationwide awareness campaign.