Covid Health Animation Project

A research-based approach to fight disinformation, increase knowledge and change behaviors around COVID 19 in underserved communities through culturally-tailored animated content.

Why are we doing this

On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General declared COVID-19 a global pandemic—the most serious respiratory virus threat since the 1918 influenza outbreak. Emerging evidence shows a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on low-income and racial(ized) and ethnic minority communities.

Age adjusted rate of fatal lab confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 by race/ethnicity group in NYC

as of April 6, 2020

Age-Adjusted Death Rate

Data complete* for 63% of deaths

It is hypothesized that this is secondary to various factors from inadequate health care coverage to insufficient public health education targeting the disenfranchised populations. Further exacerbating this information gap is distrust of the US government that continues to grow because of policies such as in the setting of immigration policies. To curb the transmission of COVID-19, educating every community about the virus and social distancing measures is critical. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand the best approach to making clinical and public health information about COVID-19 accessible to underserved populations.

Our Programs

We are in the process of creating animations across various cultural contexts directed at the most vulnerable/marginalized populations

Our Impact

The videos have been reached over 1.5 million people.

Total Comments

349

Total likes

11,526

Total Shares

6,700

Total Views

587,569

Our Team

Dr Gilberto Lopez

Dr Megan Srinivas

Health researcher

Infectious disease physician

ScD, Harvard University

MPH, Johns Hopkins University

MA, Southern Methodist University

MPH, Harvard School of Public Health

MD, University of Iowa

BA, Harvard University

Syed Mustafa Hasnain

Yahya Ehsan

Behavior change communications expert

Creative Director

Msc, London School of Economics

Bsc Honors, Oxford Brookes University

MMA, Multimedia Arts, NCA

Bsc. Computer Science, Beaconhouse Informatics

Dr. Lopez is a broadly trained social scientist with experience in mixed-methods of research. His research focuses on the political economy and social determinants of health in relation to migration, and its association with socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and health. Dr. Lopez’ ultimate goal is to produce data that will guide the development and implementation of interventions to reduce Inequities.

Dr. Megan Srinivas is an infectious disease physician and research fellow at the University of North Carolina who resides and practices in rural Iowa. Her research focuses on healthcare deserts and using social innovation to address health disparities. She’s currently leading a study analyzing how political change impacts access to reproductive health care for marginalized populations in rural America. Megan currently works with Project Echo to provide hepatitis C care via telehealth in the rural US. She is a national delegate to the American Medical Association and on the Infectious Disease Society of America Public Health Advisory Committee.

Mustafa, an Atlantic fellow, is the Managing Director of Creative Frontiers, and President of its subsidiary CFx Comics. He has created the acclaimed Paasban – the guardian comic series and has also worked on the Haider comic series and the Khiladi comic series. Mustafa was also the creator of Pakistan’s first 3D TV animated series Mein aur Mere Dost. He regularly consults for The World Bank, Stanford University, Creative Associates International, DAI, Last Mile Health and others on conflict communication and equity issues

Yahya is Creative Director at Creative Frontiers and its Subsidiary CFx Comics, Yahya has been the Art Director behind comic series Paasban – the Guardian, Haider, Khiladi (recently developed as a motion comic) and was also associated as Creative Director of Pakistan’s first 3D TV animated series ‘Mein aur Mere Dost’.

Our Story

The initial convening of the Atlantic health equity fellowship coincided with the spread of the Corvid-19 pandemic in the US which prompted Atlantic fellows Gilberto Lopez, Mustafa Hasnain and Megan Srinivas to combine their expertise in social anthropology as it relates to health, infectious disease expertise, and behavior change communications. Together with the artistic talents of Yahya Ehsan and the team at Creative Frontiers, we are working to reach marginalized communities all over the world and use a research-based approach to learn how disinformation and entrenched attitudes prevent communities from safeguarding themselves against Corvid while creating targeted, culturally tailored content to change these behaviors.

Our Partners

We are currently looking for partners and collaborators to join our project. If you are an organization/donor working with marginalized communities or are looking to increase the efficacy of your Covid-19 media campaign. Please get in touch with us on