Fr Chikoya says there is apparently alot of inaccurate and contradictory pieces of information about the COVID-19 pandemic and its purported remedies circulating on soical media platforms which have the potential to endanger the lives of people by causing fear and panic.

Fr Chikoya said this during a Joint Country Program (JCP) sponsored phone-in Radio discussion programme dubbed "Caring and Healthy Communities" on Siavonga's Kariba FM and Chirundu's Modern Voice Radio on Tuesday.

The CCZ General Secretary also appealed for concerted efforts from different stakeholders in combating COVID-19 and urged citizens to use available media platforms to interact with health experts and seek credible information on the pandemic and the health services that are available.

And speaking during the same programme, Kariba FM staffer, Doris Kapenda, said the media have an important role in educating and informing members of the public on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and urged media personnel to strive for accuracy in their reporting about the pandemic.

And a Chirundu Environmental Health Officer who also featured on the same programme said careless dissemination of fake COVID-19 messages had the potential to frustrate the frantic efforts being made to combat the spread of the pandemic as members of the public would begin to shun seeking medical services for fear of being stigmatised.

The JCP funded Radio programme is aimed at providing listeners with the opportunity to learn more about COVID-19 and engaging with experts, as well as Church and Community leaders on prevention practices.

The program also aires on Kafue Community Radio and the United voice radio.