Preventing disease Promoting and protecting health

Transcription

1 Preventing disease Promoting and protecting health

2 Mission To provide strategic direction, in analysing, defining and responding to public health priorities of the Caribbean, in order to prevent disease, promote health and respond to public health threats and emergencies

3 Chikungunya Reaches Caribbean Shores

4 Communication Mandate the provision of accurate, reliable, timely and relevant public health information to various Caribbean and international audiences (Inter-governmental Agreement Establishing CARPHA)

5 Single Overarching Communication Outcome (SOCO) Reduce fear and equip various stakeholders with the knowledge they need to address this threat

6 Presenting the Facts What is Chikungunya The symptoms of the disease How it is spread and the likelihood of spread How to protect yourself and your family What to do should you contract the virus What CARPHA is doing to ensure an effective public health response in the Region

7 CARPHA s Response CARPHA worked with Caribbean health authorities and partners to ensure that its Member States were able to identify cases early and mount a rapid, but coordinated public health response, that included identification and clinical management of cases, vector control measures, surveillance and effective communication measures

8 Communication Strategies CARPHA utilized traditional and new media methods to reach a diverse range of stakeholders including Heads of Government, policy makers, partners, health care workers, travelers/ tourists, the media and people of the Caribbean.

9 Traditional Media Media releases Media conferences Interviews with regional and international newspapers, magazines, radio and television Posters and flyers distributed regionally

10 Posters

11 Features of CHIKV Webpage and other Social Media Chikungunya weekly updates with map Guidelines for cruise ships, hotels and guest houses and travelers Frequently Asked Questions Posters for download Published articles Youtube videos Facebook posts Twitter messages Links

12 New Media

13 Myths and Misinformation Chicken-gunya comes from the chicken You cannot get Chikungunya by eating chicken or other foods, by touching or sharing food with someone who has Chikungunya Chikungunya is an airborne disease Research has shown that Chikungunya is a mosquito transmitted illness Fogging or spraying is the most effective way to control the virus Getting rid of all breeding places of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in and around your homes is most effective in reducing the number of mosquitoes in the environment

14 Myths and Misinformation Papaw leaves and other rural remedies are cures for the disease There is no scientific evidence that any food, plant, or vitamin supplement is effective in preventing or treating the chikungunya infection CARPHA is in collusion with governments to cover up and misrepresent the true impact of Chikungunya The number of chikungunya infections officially reported only reflects a small proportion of the infections actually occurring. This is because not everyone who gets infected will go to their doctor and, of those that do visit their doctor, not everyone will be tested.

15 Viral Videos

16 Viral Videos

17 Viral Videos

18 Collaborative Approach Needed to Combat CHIKV A collaborative multi-sectoral approach is most desirable in preventing and controlling the spread of Chikungunya A well-coordinated, continuous public education campaign via the Regional Health Communication Network Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week to facilitate education and vector control

19 Communication at the Core of Effective Public Health A critical success factor in preventing disease, promoting and protecting health is the utilisation of sound science and effective public health communication

20 Thank You for Listening Questions and Answers