Outbreak Communication Regional Meeting

Bryna BrennanSpecial Advisor, Social and Media Communication

Pan American Health Organization/WHOOctober 30, 2007

Why We Are Here

• To move ahead on the next phase of Outbreak Communication

• To test and contribute to a communication simulation

• To ensure that our work reaches all levels in the countries

Our Shared History

• Sub-regional pandemic communication workshops starting 2006

• Train-the-trainers

• Inter UN agency framework

• Communication included in other workshops

• Trainers training

• Shared tools and contacts

Overall Regional Highlights

• All the countries trained in risk/outbreak communication

• 23 countries have pandemic preparedness comm. plans

• Trainers coming from the ranks of the trained

• AI/PI Communication plans being tested through simulations

• Inter-ministerial communication groups

• Starting to train local level counterparts

• Communications components included in workshops

• Communicators able to be part of rapid deployment teams

Support for Countries from PAHO

• Communication strategy guidelines

• Train the trainers materials

• Slide set for risk and outbreak communication

• Web page for risk communication resources and messages

• Creating networks

• Computerized self-assessment tool for plans

• On-line discussion with Red-Salud and Communication Initiative

Andean Region Workshop, June  – Colombia

                 

• Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

• Trainers – all trained in various PAHO workshops

• Evaluation of communication plans

• Computerized tool to do self assessments

• Communication simulation

• Last in the series of subregional workshops

Lessons Learned

• PAHO communicators working together• Working together to train in the countries• Building capacity (PAHO and counterparts)• Countries working across ministries• Communication seen as equal to surveillance, etc.• http://www.ops-oms/spanish/AD/SMC_Homepage_Sp.htm• $ drives the agenda, take advantage• Communication in line with technical plans• Whole essence of a strategy

Next Steps

• Simulations in countries with new actors: local level, associations, faith-based community, education….

• Testing and revision of messages

• Ongoing inter-agency work to prepare, respond, recovery

• Continued efforts on networking

• Enforce ties to IHR and other outbreaks

• Maintain position of communication and grow

Pandemic and Outbreak Communications:Global Developments

Progress Summary

It all began with:• Outbreak Guidelines developed after SARS and 2004 Singapore meeting• 5 principles:

– T= Trust– O= Operational Planning– T= Transparency– A= Announce Early– L= Listen

Progress Summary

2006-2008: worldwide training efforts

• MoH staff

• Journalists

• PAHO: the pioneers

• Additional workshops in:– Brussels, Hong Kong, Nairobi

– Upcoming: Brunei, Beijing

– More work with FAO

Progress Summary

And Outbreak Communications Exercises:– Rapid Containment (Members States): Feb 2007

– Start of a Pandemic (UN Agencies): May 2007

Other Project Components

• Geneva meeting 2005

• 3rd Global Pandemic Influenza Communications Meeting (Cairo 2007)

• Outcomes:– Work plans on social mobilization, messaging

– Suggestion to establish the Outbreak Communications Public Information Sharing System

International Networking

• Establishment of Outbreak Communications Public Information Sharing System identified as key outcome of the Cairo meetings

• Frameworks and support resources now in place

• Staged implementation plan underway, “network of networks" model

• UN-wide initiative

• Key challenge: consistency with International Health Regulations

Key Questions

• Is the regional training generating follow up national training?• Are Outbreak Communications principles understood and being adopted

by the right people?• Is work in the field – including information sharing networks – consistent

with the revised IHR?• Is Outbreak Communications integrated with broader outbreak

management capacity building initiatives?

Outbreak Communications Guidelines Part 2

• Responds to requests from Member States and partners

• Hopes to answer the questions on the previous slide

• A “how-to" make the 5 core principles workable

• Working Group 1st Meeting: Oct 4-5, Geneva

Finalization of outbreak communications 2

• First draft by end 2007

• Consultation: early 2008

• Final draft and approval: by May 2008

• Scheduled Release Date: July 2008

• Set the new international standard in this field

Panama 2007

• Bringing us all together again– Checking the states of the national pandemic communications plans

– How surveys results may help PAHO countries improve their plans

– OC 2: is what we are doing here usable at national/subnational level?

Panama 2007

• This will be done by:– Working together to see how we move forward

– Contribute to what is being done already

– Ensuring the OC2 are applicable

– Offering your comments and suggestions

Panama 2007

• Outcomes– Reality check as to how operational the national plans are (country

focused)

– Work here will up construct OC2 in a way which really do make them operational

– Share materials, ideas, messages, strengths, weaknesses

Presentations

• Moderators– Denise Carter-Taylor

– Maritza Labrana

• 5 minutes– Time keeper (1) Vilma Gutierrez

– Advance, materials, accomplishments, challenges

• Today’s daily summary – Gustavo Delgado

Country Presentations

• Chile• Barbados• Argentina• Belize• Bolivia• Brazil• Colombia• Dominica• Ecuador• Jamaica• Mexico• Panama• Peru• Uruguay