SECTION IV. CreaTE Or UpdaTE YOUr Plan: The NaTIONal PlaNS CollECTION

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1 SECTION IV CreaTE Or UpdaTE YOUr Plan: The NaTIONal PlaNS CollECTION

2 Section IV Create Or Update Your Plan: The National Plans Collection This section focuses primarily on national pandemic preparedness plans. Almost all of the plans are from Latin America and thus are in Spanish. Many of the plans are marked the NEW symbol, which indicates the document has either been created or revised in response to the 2009 pandemic, or that have been newly found for inclusion in this section. Prior to developing or updating your national, local, or communications plan, you will want to look through this section of the Virtual Library. (636) Argentina. Ministry of Health. (2009). Plan de contingencia (Contingency plan). Buenos Aires, Argentina: Ministry of Health. (accessed August 25, 2009). The mission of Argentina s national pandemic plan is to make appropriate use of available resources in order to minimize the spread of the disease, prevent secondary emergency situations, and control panic in affected populations. The plan provides measures to be executed by the different divisions within the health sector, including communications. The plan also includes practical guidelines and procedures such as case management at health centers and management of dead bodies. Moreover, the risk communication component of the plan provides operational lines of action that serve as reference for a communication strategy. Various communication tools, including print and audiovisual materials for different audiences, updates on the H1N1 situation, information on Argentina s response measures, and information for healthcare teams and for the community can be found on the pandemic influenza webpage from the Ministry of Health ( (637) Australia. Council of Australian Governments. Working Group on Australian Influenza Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness. (May 2009). National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic. Barton ACT, Australia: The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.. (accessed October 14, 2009). This comprehensive document supports and builds on Australian, state, territory, and local pandemic response plans related to health management, as well as on other emergency management plans. The strategy outlines how the various levels of government, the business sector and the communities will work together to prepare for, respond, and recover from an influenza pandemic. The National Influenza Pandemic Public Communication Guidelines are also provided in this plan and available as a standalone document at (57) Bolivia. Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Health and Sports, and Ministry of National Defense. (April 2007). Plan nacional de preparativos y respuesta ante la influenza aviar influenza pandémica (National avian and pandemic influenza preparedness and response plan). La Paz, Bolivia: Ministries of Rural Development, Health and Sports, and National Defense. ESPUESTA%20ANTE%20IA-IP.pdf (accessed August 25, 2009). The intention of Bolivia's National Plan is to prevent the entry of bird and/or pandemic influenza into Bolivia and to strengthen national control mechanisms in the face of a possible health emergency. The plan includes before, during, and after pandemic phases, SECTION IV: CREATE OR UPDATE YOUR PLAN: THE NATIONAL PLANS COLLECTION 42

3 and takes into account the interests of the general Bolivian population with an emphasis on indigenous and local communities, small producers, and the production sector. The plan has several attachments, which include goals and responsibilities belonging to the Subcommittee for Social Communication and Mobilization; it also defines communications guidelines and spokesperson guidelines, establishes a call chain, and provides contact information for persons with secondary responsibilities. (61) Brazil. Ministry of Health. (April 2006). Plano Brasileiro de Preparação para uma pandemia de influenza, 3ª versão. (Brazil preparedness plan for a pandemic of influenza, 3 rd version.) Brasilia, Brazil: Ministry of Health. (accessed August 26, 2009). Brazil s national preparedness plan focuses on strategies and measures that the health sector should take to prepare and respond to a pandemic of influenza. Chapter 7 focuses on federal government communication planning and is divided into strategies for each pandemic phase. Moreover, the plan includes several annexes with specific guidelines and procedures for the health sector, such biosecurity measures and recommendations for treatment of infection; and includes contact lists for vaccine and for surveillance coordinators of the country s entry ports. Languages: Portuguese. (62) Chile. Ministry of Health (2007). Plan de preparación para una pandemia de influenza (Pandemic influenza preparedness plan). 2nd edition. Santiago, Chile: Ministry of Health. (accessed August 26, 2009). Chile s national pandemic preparedness plan is based on guidelines and recommendations by the World Health Organization. The plan includes a main section in which the general coordination and the principal activities to be developed during each pandemic phase are described. Annex 10 proposes detailed communications strategies for an influenza pandemic. (218) Colombia. Ministry of Social Protection. (2007). Plan de prevención y mitigación del impacto de la pandemia de influenza aviar en Colombia, versión 4 (Plan for preventing and mitigating the impact of a pandemic of avian influenza in Colombia, 4 th version). Bogota, Colombia: Ministry of Social Protection. DocumentNo9588.PDF (accessed October 6, 2009). Colombia s plan serves as a tool for the health sector to prepare for and plan for a necessary and efficient response to health emergencies. The plan includes information on the national and local coordination system to implement the plan. The communication component is described as the bridge between the population and the different sectors that play a role in reducing the negative impacts of a pandemic. The venues of intervention as well as the general and specific communication strategies are described. Up-to-date information for informed decision-making can be found at the Ministry of Social Protection Website ( and the National Institute of Health Website ( SECTION IV: CREATE OR UPDATE YOUR PLAN: THE NATIONAL PLANS COLLECTION 43

4 (41) Costa Rica. Ministry of Health. (November 2005). Plan de preparación y respuesta en situación de pandemia de influenza (Pandemic influenza preparedness and response plan). San Jose, Costa Rica: Ministry of Health. (accessed August 26, 2009). Costa Rica s national pandemic preparedness plan was developed with the guidance and support of the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two sections of the plan deal with communications: Section 2.10 states the responsibilities of the Ministry of Health and the duties that certain departments within the Ministry will have during a pandemic, particularly in terms of case notification, surveillance, and communication to the mass media. Section 2.11 defines the social communications strategies that will be used at different pandemic phases, based on multidisciplinary and multi-sector participation, especially that of the civil society and of the mass media. This section describes the communications goals and objectives during each pandemic phase and the communications strategies to reach different sectors or audiences about preventive or control measures to be taken at each pandemic phase. The communications plan specifies the key spokespersons and their tasks, and defines the general structure and organization of the communications team during the crisis. (310) Ecuador. Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Ecuadorian Farming Health Service, and Ministry of the Environment. (December 2005). Plan nacional de contingencia para enfrentar posible pandemia de influenza en el Ecuador (National contingency plan for a possible influenza pandemic in Ecuador). (accessed October 15, 2009). The development of Ecuador s national pandemic plan was a joint inter-sector effort with the participation of various ministries within the country and the support of the Pan American Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The plan follows guidelines from the Ecuador National Security Structure, which clearly establishes the roles, competencies, and institutional hierarchies for the integral participation of the state in the event of a disaster. In addition, the plan strategizes an important information, education, and social mobilization campaign. (638) El Salvador. Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance. (no date). Estrategia de comunicaciones ante una pandemia de influenza, propuesta (Communications strategy for an influenza pandemic, proposal.) San Salvador, El Salvador: Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance. (accessed October 8, 2009). The communications strategy defines the target audiences as well as the appropriate messages to disseminate at different pandemic phases. Furthermore, it provides a list of implementation channels that take paid and free advertising into consideration. Lastly, the strategy proposes a mechanism for implementing the communication strategy, which includes forming a communications committee, naming of spokespersons, and organizing training workshops for key target audiences, among other proposed activities. SECTION IV: CREATE OR UPDATE YOUR PLAN: THE NATIONAL PLANS COLLECTION 44

5 (639) El Salvador. Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance. (2009). Lineamientos actualizados para el manejo del virus pandémico H1N en humanos (Updated guidelines for the management of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus in humans.) San Salvador, El Salvador. Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance. (accessed October 8, 2009). These are technical guidelines for surveillance of and medical attention to the H1N1 virus. The guidelines provide a protocol for standardizing case management and measures of prevention, while maintaining efficient essential services in El Salvador. The document focuses on pediatric and pregnancy cases, as well as on the epidemiological surveillance of the virus and guidelines for general biosecurity measures. (640) Guatemala. National Anti-pandemic Influenza Commission. (January 2008). Plan nacional antipandémico de influenza (National anti-pandemic influenza plan). Guatemala City, Guatemala: National Anti-pandemic Influenza Commission. (accessed October 8, 2009). Guatemala s national anti-pandemic plan focuses on preventing, controlling, and eradicating an avian influenza (H5N1) outbreak in order to reduce pandemic risk as well as mortality and morbidity rates, and the socioeconomic repercussions it may cause. Moreover it provides practical flow processes to activate the plan, as well as an information flow chart, communication channels for dissemination of information, and external and internal information management instructions. The last section of the plan focuses on the deactivation procedures after the emergency situation. (66) Honduras. Secretariat of Health and Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock. (October 2005). Plan nacional de preparación para la pandemia de influenza (National pandemic influenza preparedness plan). Preliminary version. Tegucigalpa, Honduras: Secretariat of Health and Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock. AS%252028%25200ct% doc+Honduras+plan+influenza&cd=1&hl=en&ct=cl nk&gl=us (accessed October 8, 2009). Honduras s national pandemic preparedness plan is based on guidelines and recommendations by the World Health Organization. The plan includes a main section in which the general coordination and the principal activities to be developed during each pandemic phase are described. The communications objectives and goals for an influenza pandemic are described briefly. (72) Mexico. Secretariat of Health. General Directorate of Epidemiology. (August 2006). Plan nacional de preparación y respuesta ante una pandemia de influenza (National pandemic influenza preparedness and response plan). Mexico, DF, Mexico: Secretariat of Health. (accessed October 8, 2009). Mexico s national pandemic preparedness and response plan names the Comité Nacional para la Seguridad en Salud as the committee responsible for coordinating the pandemic related activities and sets the strategies, goals, and objectives of such planning. Additionally, the plan includes 10 chapters, each with specific information for the development of actions that are to take place during an influenza pandemic. Chapter II SECTION IV: CREATE OR UPDATE YOUR PLAN: THE NATIONAL PLANS COLLECTION 45

6 provides detailed information for the development of communications and health promotion actions. Mexico has performed assessments of risk perception of various target populations to understand people s pandemic knowledge and hygiene habits. In addition, Mexico created and conducted developmental testing of health promotion materials for social marketing in health and for social communications in health to inform the public about the possible pandemic and to market hygienic behaviors. (641) Nicaragua. Ministry of Health. (April 2009). Plan nacional para la prevención y respuesta ante la epidemia de influenza humana (National plan for the prevention of and response to a human influenza epidemic. Managua, Nicaragua: Ministry of Health. (accessed October 8, 2009). Nicaragua s national human influenza epidemic prevention and response plan was developed as a response to the 2009 H1N1 outbreak in Mexico. It focuses on national disease surveillance and containment and on response and mitigation. The plan lists strategies and actions under each of these phases, and communication activities are briefly described under the response and mitigation phase. (60) Panama. Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agricultural Development, Environmental National Authority, and Social Security Fund. (November 2007). Plan estratégico integrado MINSA-MIDA-ANAM-CSS ante las amenazas de la influenza aviar y la pandemia de influenza (MINSA-MIDA-ANAM-CSS integrated strategic plan to confront the threats of avian and pandemic influenza). Panama City, Panama: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agricultural Development, Environmental National Authority, and Social Security Fund. (accessed October 8, 2009). Panama s avian and pandemic influenza integrated strategic plan specifies guidelines and actions for prevention and control of pandemic influenza; activity surveillance; service resource identification and quantification; and limiting the entrance and spread of the virus in the country. It is a very comprehensive and integrated national plan that delineates the environmental, animal and human health planning and coordination strategies for each pandemic phase. The communication annex provides the list of communication actions to be taken at the different phases of a pandemic and the responsible agencies or parties. (70) Peru. Ministry of Health. (2006). Plan nacional de preparación y respuesta frente a una potencial pandemia de influenza (National preparedness and response plan for a possible influenza pandemic). Lima, Peru: Ministry of Health. (accessed October 8, 2009). Peru s national pandemic preparedness plan includes a main section that describes the general coordination and the principal activities to be developed during each pandemic phase. Annex 5 provides detailed communications objectives and strategies for an influenza pandemic. In addition, Peru has developed a detailed communications plan with objectives and strategies to keep the population informed on prevention and control measures, in preparation for an effective response to an influenza pandemic. Languages: Spanish. SECTION IV: CREATE OR UPDATE YOUR PLAN: THE NATIONAL PLANS COLLECTION 46

7 (642) Peru. Ministry of Health. Office of Communications. (2009). Preparación y respuesta frente a una potencial pandemia de influenza AH1N1: Plan de comunicaciones (Preparation and response to a potential pandemic of influenza AH1N1: Communications plan). Lima, Peru: Ministry of Health. ONES_INFLUENZA_AH1N1.pdf (accessed October 8, 2009). Peru s communication plan was developed after the World Health Organization declares a pandemic alert phase 5. The plan focuses on health promotion and education to the general population, the media, and to health professionals and communicators. The plan contains general, preventive, and reinforcing messages; detailed strategic lines of intervention; a list of spokespersons and their specific functions; actions for each communication component; and a practical chart of activities per target audience. (129) United Kingdom. Department of Health. (November 22, 2007). Pandemic flu: A national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic. London, UK: Department of Health. nce/dh_ (accessed October 9, 2009). This document describes the UK government s strategic approach for responding to an influenza pandemic. It provides background information and guidance to public and private organizations developing response plans. Supporting guidance includes an ethical framework and operating guidance for adult social care, ambulance services, mental health, dental practices, community and acute healthcare, human resources, death certification, and cremation certification. Section 10 of the framework is dedicated to communication and public engagement issues, such as defining objectives and key elements of communication, the establishment of the government news co-ordination centre, the flow of information, and the national flu line service, which provides the public with information and advice. Section 11 determines the key national decisions/actions to be taken when specific triggers occur at the various pandemic phases. (660) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Veterinary Services. Emergency Management and Diagnostics. (Draft Document, August 2007). Summary of the national highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) response plan. Washington, DC, USA: APHIS, USDA. /SummaryHPAI-Response092007Draft.pdf (accessed October 13, 2009). Communicators will be most interested in section IV of this document Communication and Education of the national highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) national response plan. This section discusses the role, duties, and goals of the USDA Office of Communications (OC) during an HPAI emergency. This plan serves as a resource for health communicators and for the media to understand how the OC will handle an emergency as the lead agency for all communications activities associated with avian influenza as an animal health issue. The document informs on the types of materials, public service messages, industry messages, and tactics that the OC will use and when they will be used. (410) U.S. State of New York. New York City, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH). (July 2006). NYC DOHMH. Pandemic influenza preparedness and response plan. New York, NY: NYCDOHMH. SECTION IV: CREATE OR UPDATE YOUR PLAN: THE NATIONAL PLANS COLLECTION 47

http://home2.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/cd-panflu-plan.shtml (accessed October 9, 2009).

8 (accessed October 9, 2009). Section 9 (Communications) of New York City s Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan provides detailed communication strategies for inter-pandemic/pandemic alert periods (Phases 1-5) and for a pandemic outbreak (Phase 6). Section 4 (Community Control and Response) of the Plan also includes some community-focused communication strategies for Phases 5 and 6 of a pandemic outbreak. Annexed to Section 9 is a Q&A fact sheet for the public about avian influenza and the possibility of a pandemic outbreak; this appendix is available in English and Spanish. (74) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). (November 2005). HHS pandemic influenza plan. Washington, DC, USA: HHS. (accessed October 9, 2009). The HHS pandemic influenza (PI) plan serves as a blueprint for all HHS PI preparedness planning and response activities. The plan has three parts. Part 1, Strategic Plan, describes a coordinated public health and medical care strategy to prepare for, and begin responding to, an influenza pandemic. Part 2, Public Health Guidance for State and Local Partners, provides guidance on specific aspects of pandemic influenza planning and response for the development of state and local preparedness plans. Part 3, HHS Agencies Operational Plans, itemizes specific roles and responsibilities of each HHS agency in the event of a pandemic. In addition, Part 2 includes 11 supplements that provide guidance on specific aspects of pandemic influenza planning and response, such as guidance on the public health communications. Specifically, the communications section (supplement 10) describes seven key risk communications concepts and what communications professionals should focus on during the different pandemic periods. (643) Uruguay. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Ministry of Public Health, and Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fishery. (2007). Plan nacional integrado de preparación para una pandemia de influenza (Iintegrated national plan for the preparation to a pandemic of influenza). Montevideo, Uruguay: PAHO. (accessed October 9, 2009). Uruguay s pandemic preparedness plan developed with support from PAHO is an inter-sector one that considers both local and national levels of government. The plan includes a section highlighting risk communication, in particular training of and response planning by communicators; and developing material for different pandemic phases in local languages. Moreover, the plan promotes community participation, as well as the creation of situation rooms at departmental (state) level for planning and responding to health emergencies. (71) Venezuela. Ministry of the People s Power for Health (Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud). (January 2006). Plan nacional de vigilancia, prevención y control ante una posible pandemia de influenza aviar (National plan for surveillance, prevention, and control of a possible avian influenza pandemic). Caracas, Venezuela: Ministry of the People s Power for Health. Venezuela2006.pdf (accessed October 9, 2009). SECTION IV: CREATE OR UPDATE YOUR PLAN: THE NATIONAL PLANS COLLECTION 48

9 Venezuela s national pandemic preparedness plan describes the national coordination scheme and the principal activities to be developed during each pandemic phase. It includes eight annexes with technical information, such as surveillance and biosecurity. In addition, the plan includes a communications framework, which lists communications objectives and detailed activities to prepare the nation for an influenza pandemic, as well as risk communication strategies to minimize human transmission during a pandemic. SECTION IV: CREATE OR UPDATE YOUR PLAN: THE NATIONAL PLANS COLLECTION 49

Regional Update Influenza (August 16, h GMT; 12 h EST)

Regional Update Influenza (August 16, 21-17 h GMT; 12 h EST) The information contained within this update is obtained from data provided by Ministries of Health of Member States and National Influenza