2 ND NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH PROMOTION : Bridging The Gap

1. 2ND NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH PROMOTION : Bridging The Gap FIGHT AGAINST H1N1: ROLE OF COMMUNICATION SASITHERAN K.K. NAIR Health Education Officer Ministry of Health Malaysia 10 October 2011

2. Health Sector Framework for Action SURVEILLANCE Laboratory PARTNERS COMMUNICATION COMMAND HEALTH CARE RESPONSE HEALTH SECTOR How to minimize preventable deaths PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS INDIVIDUAL LEVEL SOCIETAL LEVEL How to slow down transmission

3. Presentation Outline • National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP) • Goals in Risk Communication • Risk Communication Strategies • Lessons learnt

4. National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP) The six pronged strategy of the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP) • Organisational Response • Public Health Response • Medical Response • Laboratory Response • Risk Communication • Societal Response

5. Goals of Risk Communication • Build trust through broad agreement among various stakeholders to adhere to National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan • Build support for pandemic preparedness and response efforts and to encourage similar efforts in the private sectors, corporate bodies, NGOs and civil society • Instill and maintain the public’s trust in the government efforts in managing the pandemic • Provide accurate, timely, consistent and comprehensive information through out the pandemic phases • Identify and address rumours, inaccuracies and misperceptions quickly • Create and sustain networking with the media by providing reliable and credible information

6. Risk Communication Strategies • Advocacy and Networking of Stakeholders • Encouraging community participation and forging Partnerships • Reaching vulnerable groups • Engagement with the media • Collaborate with international organisations and neighbouring countries, including cross border issues

7. 1. Advocacy & Networking of Stakeholders Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) as command centre for advocacy and networking INFLUENZA PANDEMIC COMMITTEES comprises of: • National Influenza Pandemic Committee (NIPC), • State Influenza Pandemic Committee, • District Influenza Pandemic Committee - to coordinate and implement the influenza pandemic action plans at national, state and district consist of various internal and external stakeholders at all levels

8. NATIONAL INFLUENZA PANDEMIC PLANNING COMMITTEE (NIPPC) Chaired by DG of Health Malaysia • It is a technical and advisory committee for the MOH and the National Inter-ministerial Influenza Pandemic Committee . It was responsible for developing strategies. • Seeking expertise from WHO, international and local multidisciplinary experts. • MOH is the lead agency for the country with technical inputs from NIPPC.

9. NATIONAL INTER-MINISTERIAL INFLUENZA PANDEMIC COMMITTEE (NIIPC) Chaired by Honourable Minister of Health Malaysia • To provide policy directions and co-ordination of ministries and departments, governmental and non-governmental agencies relevant for controlling the pandemic in the country. It is answerable to the Cabinet on all matters related to the pandemic • Special meeting chaired by DPM for cabinet members (ministers) to coordinate and support control measures (special allocation )

10. 2. Encourage Community Participation & Forging Partnerships Involve various stakeholders: • Ministry of Education -Teachers at school level – screening for temperature, monitor absenteeism, practise personal hygiene • Malaysian Airport Bhd – work together with MOH – in-flight announcement and distribution of PPE • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – provide financial support to carry out public education activities – campaign, production of material and airing the messages in the media

11. 3. Reaching Vulnerable Groups Identified vulnerable groups and their needs: • Produce targeted messages • Utilize appropriate communication channels to deliver the messages • Distribution of specific materials

13. 4. Engagement with the Media MOH was able to provide: • Relevant information about events for backgrounds • Adequate newsworthy information to report immediately after an event • A reliable source of information to help explain situation before, current and expected outcome of event. • The most simple, accurate, up-to-date and easily understood information for news, commentaries and analyses.

14. Thro’……. • Spokesperson • Daily Press Conference/Release • Dedicated website • Dedicated hotlines • Media messages – tv, radio ads, newspaper print, media online interpersonal

15. 5. Collaborate with international organisations & neighbouring countries • Bilateral meetings btwn Malaysia & bordering countries • ASEAN+3 Countries • WHO

16. Lessons learnt – What we did well • Active participation in policy and technical meetings • close collaboration with other Ministries and Partner organizations • Continuous capacity building activities • Timely development and release of information or IEC materials based on feedbacks from various sources i.e. hotlines and emails • Coordinated risk communication messages from National to States, Districts and other stakeholders • Regular press conferences/release

17. THANK YOU