Outbreak Communication Regional Meeting Bryna Brennan Special Advisor, Social and Media Communicatio

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Outbreak Communication Regional MeetingBryna
BrennanSpecial Advisor, Social and Media
CommunicationPan American Health
Organization/WHOOctober 30, 2007
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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

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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

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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

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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

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Andean Region Workshop, June   Colombia

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• 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

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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

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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

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Pandemic and Outbreak CommunicationsGlobal
Developments
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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

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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

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Progress Summary

• And Outbreak Communications Exercises
• Rapid Containment (Members States) Feb 2007
• Start of a Pandemic (UN Agencies) May 2007

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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Presentations

• Moderators
• Denise Carter-Taylor
• Maritza Labrana
• 5 minutes
• Time keeper (1) Vilma Gutierrez
• Advance, materials, accomplishments, challenges
• Todays daily summary Gustavo Delgado

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Country Presentations

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