WhatsApp has partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to create a devoted hub for info associated to COVID-19. Called the WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Hub, the webpage highlights how the messaging app and its numerous options can be utilized by healthcare staff, educators, neighborhood leaders, non-profit organizations, native governments and small companies to higher talk throughout this time of disaster.In a press release, Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp, mentioned that the brand new initiative will assist individuals keep related throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “We know that our users are reaching out on WhatsApp more than ever at this time of crisis, whether it’s to friends and loved ones, doctors to patients, or teachers to students. We wanted to provide a simple resource that can help connect people at this time. We are also pleased to be able to partner with the Poynter Institute to help grow the amount of fact-checking organizations on WhatsApp and to support their life-saving work to debunk rumors”, he mentioned.
In addition, the corporate additionally introduced a $1 million (roughly Rs. 7.44 crores) donation to the Poynter Institute’s International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) as a part of its efforts to cease the unfold of misinformation, rumors and pretend information concerning the outbreak that has already been acknowledged by the WHO as a pandemic. The group has been coordinating the #CoronaVirusFacts Alliance, with greater than 100 fact-checkers in not less than 45 international locations.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp’s guardian firm, Facebook, has additionally dedicated to donating $20 million (round Rs. 150 crores) to combat COVID-19. The social media large final week introduced a partnership with the United Nations Foundation and WHO to start out a world COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund with a donation dedication of as much as $10 million (round Rs. 75 crore). It may also donate $10 million to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for combating the outbreak within the US.
