Increasing Capacity Needs for Health Communication in Emergency Situations

1. Increasing Capacity Needs for Health Communication in Emergency Situations Muhiuddin Haider Ph.D. Department of Global Health School of Public Health and Health Services The George Washington University Research Team Maraquita Hollman Esther Han Rachel Nathman 37th APACPH Conference Taipei, Taiwan November 20 – 23, 2005

3. Introduction • In Addition to the four common domains that are shared by all emergencies a fifth is need: • coordinating communications throughout – verbal and nonverbal messages that convey meaning between parties

5. Role health communication plays in emergency management: • Inform and raise awareness of problems that cross geographical, political, or economic boundaries • Catalyze preparedness efforts • Inform stakeholders and communities about needs and priorities • Provide information exchange during crises • Rebuild communities after disasters

6. Recent global events demonstrates that better health communication activities are needed before, during, and after emergencies, especially in the first 24 hours since these are the most critical.

7. Effective Communication: • provide guidance • be accurate • be straightforward • acknowledge uncertainty Consequences of EffectiveCommunication: • Build trust and credibility • Build support between sectors Consequences of Ineffective Communication: • Panic, rumors, disorganization • Miscommunication between groups • Delayed response

8. Finding the Gap in Health Communications “Health Communication in Fragile States and Humanitarian Emergencies” Symposium held by Academy for Educational Development (AED) and the George Washington University Center for Global Health in July 2005 Attendance: emergency communication experts from the private, public, and NGO sectors working in the United States and globally

9. The symposium consisted of four sessions: • Session 1: Health communication priorities in fragile states during “normal” times and in emergencies • Session 2: Challenges of natural disasters, disease outbreaks, civil strife, and terrorism • Session 3: Role of media and information and communication technologies • Session 4: Communication in emergency preparedness training programs

10. Symposium Findings There is a need to strengthen the health communications capacity of organizations and individuals working in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery.

12. Communication Capacity Building is Needed in the Following Areas: • Strategic planning • Rapid needs assessment • Rapid materials adaptation/production • Emergency communication concepts and strategies • Media relations • Community-based communication

13. As a Result of the Symposium Findings The George Washington University Center for Global Health Looked for Gaps in the existing Academic Emergency Management Curricula (this includes Risk Management curricula)

14. Summary of APACPH Member Institutions

15. Curricula Reconnaissance Findings • Mitigation and Preparedness curricula (specifically risk management and risk assessment curricula) dominate academia • Deficit in Preparedness, Response, and Recovery curricula, specifically curricula focusing on coordinating communications between response organizations during complex emergencies

16. Filling the Gap – Develop Curriculum AED and the George Washington University Center for Global Health propose the development of Health Communication in Emergencies Modules • Curriculum objective: strengthen communication skills of community health programs in emergency and non-emergency settings. • Priority audience: NGO program managers who oversee community health programs and volunteers. Module education for these individuals will infiltrate other populations: health care leaders, other NGOs, and civil society

18. Curriculum Concentrations • AREA I: Communication planning for emergency preparedness, response, and recovery • AREA II: Improving planning, management, and evaluation of “routine” health communication and social mobilization programs

19. Module curriculum will correspond to Areas I & II: • Basics of planning behavior change programs • Needs assessment/formative research • Materials development • Participatory communications approaches and tools • Interpersonal communication • Monitoring and evaluation • Information and communication technology applications • Basic family and community health practices

20. Modules will be taught that are specific to emergency preparedness, response, and recovery: • Basics of risk communication • Mapping potential risk factors in the community • Testing risk concepts • Rapid needs assessment and materials development and testing • Working with the media • Counseling/psychosocial support to victims of emergencies • Emergency health practices

21. Duration of Curriculum • 1-2 week training workshops • 4-8 week courses offered by AED and GWU or by a school of public health in a partner country

22. CLOSING – R.I.S.K. Health communication and GW-AED modules, through training and learning, increases Responsiveness to emergencies by strengthening ties through a network and by taking Information about emergencies and Sharingit, transforming Knowledge into understanding.

23. Sustainability – Evolving Emergency Management Plan