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

2. 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

3. Pan American Health Organization World Health Organization Pandemic and Outbreak Communication PAHO/WHO Emergency Communication Demand* 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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