Nigeria, April 1 -- The COVID-19 pandemic took the world by surprise, revealing a global failure to invest in pandemic preparedness. Scientists, looked upon to find a cure, had little time and a low margin for error.

And because the disease is novel and spreads fast, an infodemic - misconception, mistrusts, and scepticisms - sprung, putting pressure on fact-checkers and journalists to deliver accurate, balanced, and timely reports while countering false information.

Two issues remained contentious for more than a year after the pandemic broke: a growing debate on the efficacy of the treatment regimens for the disease and the safety concerns about COVID-19 vaccines.

For instance, the use of Ivermectin - a medication used to treat many t...