Seminar 2, Communications Planning, September 2006
1. Welcome, Roy Wadia CDC (2:29)
Title: Welcome Remarks by Roy Wadia, CDC (Moderator).
2. Introduction by Melinda Frost, CDC (3:30)
Title: Introduction by Melinda Frost, Acting Lead Communications, CDC.
Current State of Avian and Human Influenza.
3. China, Status of Avian Flu (7:03)
Title: Strategies and Achievement of HPAI Control in China – Chen
Guosheng, Deputy Director, Division of Animal Disease Prevention and
Control, Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, China.
Summary: The video highlights China’s strategies for HPAI control, which include: i) enhancing leadership; ii) establishing emergency response teams; iii) strengthening the epidemic surveillance and reporting system and early warning; iv) strengthening research on technology related to AI; v) strengthening coordination among sectors in the central and local governments at all levels; vi) providing compensation (standard of compensation, 10 Yuan RMB for every poultry); and vii) improving public awareness (assessed through surveys). The active international poultry trade, which increases the risk of the HPAI epidemic, and migration of birds remains a challenge.
4. Mainland China: Status of Avian Flu (5:28)
Title: Situation of Human H5N1 Cases in Chinese Mainland
Summary: The main feature of 21 H5N1 cases in China is a median age of 26, mainly among young women and children. Through direct exposure to sick or dead poultry, mortality reached as high as 67 percent. There was no evidence of occurrence of reassortment between the human virus and the avian influenza A virus. China has undertaken efforts to share externally the knowledge and resources about its experience in managing H5N1 by attending international symposiums and offering technical support to others, and professional exchanges with counterparts from other countries.
5. INDONESIA (11:35)
Title: Indonesia and ASEAN Secretariat’s Efforts to Control Avian Flu. Susanna Dayne, Head of UNICEF AI Public Awareness Campaign
Summary: Indonesia’s national strategic plan aims to bring AI under control by 2008. The number one priority is public awareness and risk preparation. The plan includes a strong communication plan with the following elements: provision of accurate up-to-date information to the media; public awareness–raising events, and social mobilization; and clear instructions to reduce risk of contracting H5N1. Challenges include funding to keep campaigns running and time to develop and fine tune messages. When human-to-human transmission was on-going in Indonesia, WHO worked with the government to investigate outbreaks, and to use antivirals to prevent disease and further transmission. Key actions undertaken by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) include: strengthening institutional linkages with international agencies to control zoonotic diseases; strengthening regional cooperation to determine containment measures; enhancing diagnostic capabilities; information sharing; and putting in place emergency preparedness plans.
6. VIETNAM (12:52)
Title: Vietnam’s Efforts in Establishing a Communication Campaign Against Avian Flu
Summary: Vietnam’s strategy to contain Avian Flu is two-fold: i) A communication strategy aimed at raising community awareness and promoting behavioral change in different population groups, has been developed; and ii) efforts are underway to ensure active consultation and collaboration between sectors and ministries: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development leads the implementation of the communication strategy; the Ministry of Health leads on disseminating information on clinical updates; the Ministry of Education introduces the emergency plan in regular training curriculums; local provincial authorities support dissemination of information to grassroots levels; the Ministry of Communication ensures information has wide reach; and the Defense Ministry checks emergency plans. The government collaborates with neighboring countries, sharing regulations on quarantining domestic fowl.
7. UNICEF (11:05)
Title: Public Awareness Campaign for Avian/Pandemic Influenza in East Asia – Susan Mackay, UNICEF Program Communications Officer, EAP.
Summary: The Asia/Pacific Avian/Pandemic Influenza Communications strategy emphasizes: establishing an inter-regional model with UNDP, OSHA that recognizes comparative advantages and identifies interfaces between agencies.
8. TURKEY (19:34)
Title: Turkey: Public Awareness and Coordination Support – Halil Agah, Senior Rural
Development Specialist, ECA Region, World Bank.
Summary: Turkey’s Health and Agriculture Ministries implement and prepare the AI and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project activities. The National Zoonotic Disease Committee provides general policies and guidance for project implementation. A working group responsible for strengthening institutional linkage, establishes networks between related agencies and stakeholders, develops new partnerships, and prepares and implements communication strategies to control the spread of AI.
9. THAILAND (8:50)
Title: Thailand’s Approach to Communications for AI and Pandemic Preparedness –
Dr. Praphasri Jongsuksuntigul, Director, Dept. of Disease Control, MOPH.
Summary: Thailand’s Approach to Communication for AI and Pandemic Preparedness includes dissemination of messages through the media; human resource development (risk communication training for public health officers and village health volunteers); research and development; and international collaboration. A key lesson learned is that public confidence is based on timely, transparent public information.
10. David Nabarro (4:34)
Title: United Nations Perspectives and Comments - David Nabarro, Senior UN System Influenza Coordinator.
Summary: Without effective communication, we cannot encourage people to work together. The communication part of the international strategy on Avian and Human Influenza needs to be planned and implemented with as much care as any other part of the overall strategy.
11. Question 1 (4:25)
Title: Q & A Following David Nabarro’s Presentation
12. LAO PDR (8:04)
Title: AI Communication Strategy and Achievements – Dr. Anothay Kongsayasak, Director Center for Information and Education on Health, Lao PDR MOH.
Summary: Immediate campaigning to promote hygiene, food safety, report sick or dead birds, and improve biosecurity is a key part of Lao PDR’s AI communication strategy. Challenges include: sharing accurate information; distribution of materials; lack of surveys on attitudes; limited human resources; funding; and maintaining a high-level commitment.
13. Question 2 (6:18)
Title: Q and A (2) - Avian Flu conference
14. Question 3 (12:27)
Title: Q and A (3) - Avian Flu conference
15. WHO Paul Gully (15:55)
Title: WHO and H5N1 – Dr Paul Gully, Senior Adviser to Assistant Director General.
Summary: Communication is an integral part of risk management and disease prevention and control. It requires winning the trust of the population and the media. It is important to keep track of mutations of the influenza viruses, which occasionally cause the virus to become more pathogenic to poultry or even to humans, and is more likely to increase transmission. Human to human transmission has and can take place where contact takes place, in health care or domestic situations. However, there is no evidence that sustainable human to human transmission occurred; transmission chain always stops at that point – it does not transmit to second and third contact. WHO’s Strategic Action Plan for Pandemic Influenza emphasizes a rapid containment response and protocol including antivirals and isolation of human cases, quarantining of contacts, and social distancing to reduce risk of transmission.
16. Question 4 (13:12)
Title: Q and A (4) - Avian Flu conference
Summary: In future outbreaks, it will be important to monitor H5NI virus and cases in humans for changes that indicate that the virus has mutated to increase risk to humans. There is need to improve surveillance systems to identify what the next virus might be.
17. CDC Betsy Mitchell (15:55)
Title: CDC and Avian Flu Focus Groups - Betsy Mitchell, Emergency Communication Branch, Division of Health Communication and Marketing Strategy, CDC
Summary: Explains how to set up a focus group. The purpose of a focus group is to obtain in-depth information about attitudes, behaviors of interest, and concerns. Once completed, develop an action plan based on findings.
18. Closing Remarks - Melinda Frost (4:13)
Title: Closing Remarks - Melinda Frost, Acting Lead, Global Communications, CDC
Summary: There is need for shared messages, robust monitoring and evaluation, and continued funding of long term campaigns.
19. David Nabarro Summaries (3:46)
Title: Summary and Closing Thoughts - David Nabarro, Senior UN Systems Influenza Coordinator
Summary: David Nabarro, Senior UN Systems Influenza Coordinator, outlines 6 key points in effectively managing AI: i) Get messaging right and agreed on by everyone; ii) define audience for messages and link message to audience; iii) make sure different parts of government working on influenza issues do their communication work together; iv) build trust through communications work; v) check impact by monitoring and evaluation; vi) compare experiences between countries, particularly neighboring countries.
20. Closing (:58)
Title: Closing by moderators