Pandemic Preparedness Communications: WHO

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Phillip Morgan
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1 Pandemic Preparedness Communications: WHO International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, New Delhi, 5 December 2007

2 WHO Strategic Action Plan: 5 key areas that concern human health 1. Reduce human exposure to H5N1 virus Reduce opportunities for emergent pandemic virus 2. Strengthen early warning system Ensure data + clinical specimens available for risk assessment 3. Intensify rapid containment operations Rapid response team and networking 4. Build capacity to cope with pandemic National Pandemic Preparedness Plans, WHO able to perform pandemic role 5. Coordinate global scientific research & vaccine development Pandemic vaccines, antiviral drugs

3 Pandemic Preparedness: The importance of communications We live in a highly mobile, interdependent world Communications travels as fast as infectious diseases More than 2 billion airline passengers a year SARS had spread to 37 countries within weeks in 2003 The globalization of IT = disease and news have no borders Reports of outbreaks are increasingly being captured in news stories before PH surveillance Health communication is an important public health tool The control and prevention of many infectious disease rest on public cooperation and community participation Health communication should be an integral component of public health measures

4 Influenza at WHO Multiple Complementary Programmes International Health Regulations Director-General Country and Regional Offices Communications Food Safety, Zoonoses and Foodborne Diseases Information Technology and Telecommunications Ethics Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals GIP Global Influenza Programme Alert and Response Operations Dangerous Pathogens WHO Mediterranean Centre for Vulnerability Reduction General Management

5 Examples of WHO Pandemic Preparedness Products: National Level Strategies Specifics Self-assessment (forthcoming)

Pandemic Preparedness Communications: Achievements Integration of health communications as an integral component

exercises Global pandemic influenza communications meetings Member states, UN agencies, academia and partner

Regions 5 completed out of 6 150 Member State participants Tools and guidelines Outbreak communications

6 Pandemic Preparedness Communications: Achievements Integration of health communications as an integral component of WHO strategies, guidelines and activities Global advocacy and consultations Regional workshops and simulation exercises Global pandemic influenza communications meetings Member states, UN agencies, academia and partner organizations Work planning, information sharing Outbreak Communications Workshops and Exercises WHO Regions 5 completed out of Member State participants Tools and guidelines Outbreak communications principles adopted by Member States and partners Principles now being developed into operational guidance with practical tools

7 Pandemic Preparedness Communications: Challenges From concepts to operational readiness Balancing public health/political/scientific imperatives Translating technical into meaningful messages Define community preparedness for PI Clarification of concepts and messages AI response VS PI preparedness AI outbreak response (routine) VS rapid containment (extraordinary) Broadening partnerships Engaging wider civil society and groups e.g. faith-based organizations, NGOs Community mitigation Population must be informed and engaged National authorities will not be able to respond to all communities simultaneously

8 Pandemic preparedness at community level: Learning from disaster preparedness Prepared communities will react differently to unprepared communities Level of development Potential disaster Prepared Prepared community Unprepared community Unprepared community Strong local level response and coordination supported by national level response Time Figure 1: The effects of disasters on the development of prepared and unprepared The effects of disasters on the development of prepared communities (WHO) and unprepared communities (WHO) If communities are prepared then the impact may not be so devastating and recovery will be quicker

9 Pandemic Preparedness Communications: Key messages 1 Local communities react and cope with a pandemic => most critical dimension to limiting spread and reducing mortality 2 Dialogue needs to be established with the public NOW. The public need to understand the rationale and uncertainties of public health interventions. 3 Effective pandemic communications help people prepare what to expect and make the best choices. Only in this way - people can take action in the event of a pandemic.

10 THANK YOU International Ministerial Conference on Avian and Pandemic Influenza, New Delhi, 5 December 2007

Global Challenges of Pandemic and Avian Influenza. 19 December 2006 Keiji Fukuda Global influenza Programme

Global Challenges of Pandemic and Avian Influenza 19 December 2006 Keiji Fukuda Global influenza Programme Summary of Current H5N1 Situation 1997 First known outbreak infecting humans 18 people hospitalized