Pan American Health Organization World Health Organization Pandemic and Outbreak Communication PAHO/WHO Module 2: IHR Risk communications Capacity: Public Communication Coordination

Pan American Health Organization World Health Organization Pandemic and Outbreak Communication PAHO/WHO Emergency Communication Demand Emergencies have unique characteristics, including: –high impact –extreme time pressure –involvement of multiple organizations Risk communication for emergencies must adapt to specific challenges

Pan American Health Organization World Health Organization Pandemic and Outbreak Communication PAHO/WHO Emergency Communication Demand* Media Public brief Material Translation Partners Norm Emergency * Survey of communication and medical staff: SARS, Vietnam, 2003; AI (human), Thailand, 2004; Reintroduction of wild polio virus, Indonesia, 2005; AI, Romania, 2006; AI (human) Azerbaijan, 2006; AI (human) Turkey, 2006; Ebola, DRC, 2007; Dengue, Uruguay, 2007; Vaccine Derived Polio Virus, Nigeria, 2007

Pan American Health Organization World Health Organization Pandemic and Outbreak Communication PAHO/WHO Emergency Communication Demand Analysis further suggests it is not only workload that increases Emergency communication typically has unique characteristics: –Shift from national to international interest –Non-health media involved –Economic consequences –Immediate involvement of senior political actors

Pan American Health Organization World Health Organization Pandemic and Outbreak Communication PAHO/WHO Case Study: Risk Management Polio: Nigeria 2003 Religious and political leaders in Northern regions: Polio vaccine = infertility/HIV Result: Program suspended 17: countries infected 500M USD: program cost 1000+: children paralyzed

Pan American Health Organization World Health Organization Pandemic and Outbreak Communication PAHO/WHO Case Study: Risk Management Polio: Nigeria 2003 Context: North/South political tension Population Control Policy in 1980s –vaccinations suspected of population control 1996 Pfizer trial – alleged unethical / illegal Post 9/11 tension WHO trained local staff to deliver vaccine –excluded local leadership

Pan American Health Organization World Health Organization Pandemic and Outbreak Communication PAHO/WHO Case Study: Risk Management Polio: Nigeria 2003 Polio Partnership met with Health Minister –states responsible for immunization Government/Partner efforts to reassure failed Study of information sources: –5% from TV/Radio –21% from religious institution –57% from the town crier Resolution: –dialogue with religious and local political leaders –testing the vaccine in Indonesia

Pan American Health Organization World Health Organization Pandemic and Outbreak Communication PAHO/WHO Public Communication IHR Risk Communication Capacity: Public Communication Coordination 1.Identification of likely public health emergency partners 2.Adoption of emergency coordination principles 3.Development of communication coordination mechanism