CLAIM: Ministry of Health to launch free DNA Testing across the country.
SOURCE: Social Media Blog
VERDICT: there’s no evidence that the health ministry will render free DNA services.
FULL TEXT: A blog on social media (Facebook) named Boyfriend FC blog posted on its page on March 20, 2023, a “Breaking News”!
In that post, the blogger informed its followers that the Ministry of Health of Liberia was poised to launch a free DNA Test across Liberia.
Its claims that the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Health, will commence Free DNA tests across the country.
In the blogger’s post, Liberia’s Health Minister, Dr. Willimina Jallah, was quoted as calling on all Liberians to use such an opportunity to clear their minds on who is the biological father of their child or children.
The justification of the blogger was that it would end young women giving false pregnancies to young Men and Sugar Daddies across the Country.
Boyfriend FC blog quoted Dr. Jallah cautioning young girls to make use of family planning to avoid having an unwanted pregnancy.
The blog indicated that the process would be conducted on April 3 and end on May 3, 2023.
The post attracted 261 comments and 12 shares.
VERIFICATION: The post from the blog raised concerns, thus causing Health Minister Dr. Wilhemena Jallah to take to her official Facebook page to rubbish the claim.
She wrote: Fake News! “ Minister of Health to give free DNA test in April & May” Office of the Health Minister Dr. (Tramadol) Wilhemena Jallah.
The Stage Media established that an ongoing activity convened by the Ministry of Health of Liberia is a three-day International Community Health Workers (CHW) symposium. Through the Ministry of Health, the government of Liberia has gathered over 700 delegates from 46 Countries around the world.
The event is currently being convened at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex from March 20-24, 2023) and it is under the theme: “Advancing Community Health Workers program to build resilient Equitable health system that Accelerate Primary Health Care for Universal health coverage Health courage.”
CONCLUSION: From the information provided by the Minister of Health stating that the News is fake, we can safely join her in saying that No, the Ministry of Health is not carrying out free DNA testing, nor does it has plans to provide any free DNA testing as posted by the blog.
R. Joyclyn Wea,r.joyclynwea@gmail.com
