Doctors Explain launches MedDefender AI — a multilingual toolkit to fight health misinformation

Nairobi, 13 October 2025 — Doctors Explain Digital Health today announced the launch of MedDefender AI, a multilingual, community-centred digital health tool built to detect, verify and rapidly respond to harmful health content spreading online and through community channels.

Designed for journalists, community health workers and public health teams, MedDefender AI combines automated monitoring with human moderation to tackle false cures, vaccine myths and AI-generated disinformation circulating on platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok and local radio networks.

“Mis- and disinformation cost lives,” said Dr. Levi Cheruo Cheptora, CEO and Founder of Doctors Explain. “With MedDefender AI we’re equipping communities and media partners with tools that spot dangerous trends early and deliver culturally-appropriate, verified counter-messages — in Kiswahili, English and local dialects.”

How the toolkit works

The toolkit centres on several linked modules:

• AI Monitoring Engine — an NLP-driven social listening layer that scans posts, videos and voice content across languages and formats to flag potential health misinformation.
• Fact-Matching & Verification Layer — cross-checks flagged items against trusted health sources and knowledge graphs to assess risk and accuracy.
• Community Alerts Dashboard — a real-time notification hub that pings Doctors Explain reporters, partner media houses and community networks while displaying a regional impact heatmap.
• Counter-Messaging Toolkit — a library of ready-to-use, culturally adapted responses (text, radio scripts and short videos) that partners can deploy immediately to correct false narratives.
• AI Ethics & Safety Layer — human review and privacy safeguards that ensure the system follows responsible AI practices.

Who will use it

MedDefender AI is intended for frontline communicators and civic actors including community health volunteers (also referred to as CHVs), local radio and media journalists, health educators, NGOs and public health communication teams.

Expected impact

Doctors Explain highlights immediate and longer-term outcomes expected from the rollout of MedDefender AI:

• Early detection of viral health misinformation trends, enabling faster response.
• Rapid deployment of verified, localized counter-messages through partnered media channels using the Counter-Messaging Toolkit.
• Strengthened public trust in health communication by promoting evidence-based content.
• Reduced spread of AI-generated fake health content through targeted verification and takedown support.
• Empowered communities who can recognize and report digital threats via training and the Community Alerts Dashboard reporting features.

Pilot and partnership plans

The initial pilot will focus on Nairobi and Nakuru counties, with collaboration planned with local radio partners, community health volunteers networks and media houses. Doctors Explain is inviting partnerships with NGOs, government health agencies and regional media coalitions to scale the solution.

“Technology alone is not enough,” Dr. Cheptora added. “The real power of MedDefender AI is its integration with trusted local actors who know the language, culture and channels that actually move people to safer health decisions.”

For more information about the toolkit, partners and pilot opportunities, visit: https://doctorsexplain.net/MedDefender-AI/

Contact: Doctors Explain Digital Health — info@doctorsexplain.net — https://doctorsexplain.net/MedDefender-AI/