Extracts from a lead article on Nigeria Health Watch. Read online: https://articles.nigeriahealthwatch.com/public-health-communication-duri...
"We've learned collectively that transparency, openness, and the communication of credible information to people in real-time results in functional responses by people"- Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO Health Emergencies Programme
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significance of credible information and communication, as governments around the world were faced with combating not only the epidemic but also the infodemic of misinformation. It was crucial to disseminate lifesaving information because it enabled people to take precautionary measures to keep themselves and their communities safe.
The 2nd International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2022), with the theme "Preparedness for future Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Recovery: Africa at a Crossroad," provided a platform for African leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to share findings and lessons on public health across the continent... The event's goal was to discuss key lessons learned over the previous two years, innovations in risk communication and community engagement, the role of the media, and how lessons learned can be used to strengthen ongoing and future public health emergency responses...
When discussing the use of evidence in communications during the COVID-19 response, Aimable Twahirwa, a science journalist based in Kigali, discussed how the lack of evidence-based publications led to public mistrust and the solution was to put problem solving at the centre of their narrative. “We had to work with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre to train journalists to understand scientific evidence-based data, to be able to interpret and share with the general public”.
Lessons learned for future responses
Misinformation and disinformation have accompanied public health emergencies, so trust can only be built through effective health communication to inform and keep pace with health information flows. People now have access to a variety of information sources as a result of the democratisation of information.
As a result, appropriate partnerships with the media, government institutions, technology platforms and other social media platforms must be established, promoted, and sustained at all levels. These platforms are critical in disseminating accurate health information, which is crucial in preventing the spread of misinformation during public health emergencies...
Unless there is a robust and clear flow of communication from public health institutions to the community level, misinformation and disinformation will continue to be a major challenge in responding to public health emergencies...
Best wishes, Neil
Coordinator, HIFA project on COVID-19, supported by University of Edinburgh
https://www.hifa.org/projects/covid-19
Let's build a future where every person has access to reliable healthcare information and is protected from misinformation - Join HIFA: www.hifa.org
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All - www.hifa.org ), a global health community with more than 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages. HIFA brings stakeholders together to accelerate progress towards universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK based non-profit in official relations with the World Health Organization.
Twitter: @hifa_org neil@hifa.org
