Facebook’s parent company Meta is strengthening the Bangladesh government’s Covid-19 pandemic response, according to a press release issued Thursday.
Meta has connected 2 billion people to resources from health authorities and carried out awareness campaigns on Facebook and Instagram throughout the pandemic, read the release.
The company has supported the Bangladesh government and national health agencies in their Covid-19 response and helped with vaccination roll-out in the country.
Over the last two years, Meta has partnered with the ICT Division and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to launch nationwide social media campaigns and make it easier for people to access authoritative health information.
The Covid-19 information center, also available in Bangla, connects people to the latest government directives and helps them learn about best practices on hygiene and safety measures.
Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT, said: “During the pandemic, Meta has 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.”
National health agencies and government campaigns around the world have been using personalized ad campaigns across Meta technologies to raise awareness about Covid-19. In Bangladesh, Facebook ads have highlighted the national helpline 333 for people to get support.
In 2021, Covid-19 Vaccine Finder was launched on Facebook to help citizens find their nearest vaccination centres and register through the national vaccine registration portal.
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 to help Bangladeshis learn how to identify and combat false information online.
In a video on its Facebook page, Meta has an overview of how the company’s technologies have strengthened the government of Bangladesh’s vaccination efforts and nationwide awareness campaign.
“At Meta, we are committed to using 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, public policy lead for Bangladesh at Meta.
Meta’s technologies provide platforms that enable people to connect to other medical facilities such as blood donation features and local mental health helplines, too.