Upcoming / Special Event

Regional Training Course on Risk Communication
in Health Emergencies

 

Background

An “Asia Pacific Meeting on Health Emergencies and Human Resource Development” was organized by WHO WPRO and SEARO together with SEAMEO TROPMED Network in October 2006,. The meeting aimed to: (i) define the HRD needs within the context of emergencies in Asia Pacific; (ii) map the status of training and HRD in Asia Pacific to include major training institutions; (iii) identify the gaps in HRD in the areas of preparedness, response, recovery and transition; and (iv) recommend training and HRD measures to fill the gaps identified.

Risk communication was identified as one of the major roles/functions of the health sector professionals in all phases of a public health emergency. In February 2007, a regional training on disaster risk communication was organized in Manila, Philippines to address this training need.

A total of 27 participants attended the training workshop. Three (3) each from Cambodia, Peoples Republic of China, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Philippines and Vietnam were supported by WHO WPRO. SEAMEO-France Cooperation supported participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines and Thailand.

An evaluation instrument was developed specific to the training workshop Results of the evaluation showed that majority of the participants felt that all five objectives of the course were achieved to a great extent. Majority of the participants cited the content, the strategies and the processes utilized in the workshop when asked about the three things they like best in the workshop. .

However, the participants also mentioned that there are things that can still be improved. For example, the addition of written guidelines /instructions for the exercises and case studies, provision of handouts during the discussion, and the duration of the workshop were identified as improvements.

A regional curriculum was specifically recommended to be developed. A packaged regional training course will allow standardization of core competencies needed in risk communication as well as prepare the rolling out of the training to the countries for national implementation. The recent experiences in emergencies and disaster in the region will serve as inputs in the development of a training curriculum, the teaching/learning materials, and in the choice of methodologies for a regional course.

Thus a regional course was developed and packaged. The following activities were undertaken in the development and packaging of this regional course on risk communication:

1. Consultative Meeting

A three day consultative workshop was organized 27-30 October 2008 to develop the framework of the course curriculum. The participants to this consultative meeting were experts that included content specialists, curriculum designer, graphic designer and professionals involved in risk communication. The framework of the curriculum was developed based on the competencies needed in disaster risk communication.

2. Development of the Modules

Experts were assigned specific modules of the course to write based on the course outline developed during the consultative meeting.

3. Packaging of the Training Course

Two specialists were primarily responsible for this component, i.e., curriculum designer/education specialist and graphic designer. From the modules developed by the content experts, a complete training package was developed.

4. Editing and finalization of the training package

An editor reviewed the final draft completed by the education specialist and the graphic designer.

 

Rational

The need for human resource development in the area of disaster risk communication was reinforced in both the October 2006 meeting and in the regional course organized February 2007. The recent experiences in emergencies and disaster in the region underscore the need for risk communication in all phases of an emergency or disaster. This regional training course for several country teams in the region is being proposed for two reasons: (i) address the need identified by health and health related professionals involved in emergencies and disasters; and (ii) pilot test the training package that was developed.

 

Educational Goal of the Training Course

The course aims to provide health and health related professionals involved in health emergency management with deep understanding of the concepts, principles, and strategies in Risk Communication and the ability to contribute to the capacity enhancement in Risk Communication at country and community levels. They are also expected to be able to assist the MOH of each Member State of WHO Western Pacific Region in the development and implementation of training courses for enhancing Risk Communication capacity of its health sector. And finally they should serve as advocates and catalysts for risk reduction through effective risk communication.

 

Objectives of the Training Course

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Achieve an understanding of basic concepts of risk communication in health emergencies;
  • Develop a risk communication plan;
  • Package & Deliver risk communication messages to appropriate audiences;
  • Monitor/evaluate effects of risk communication messages; and
  • Manage/Network/ Advocate for risk communication activities.
 

Participants  

The countries to be involved are: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Vietnam, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. Each country will have 3 nominees. The participants should be from the health and health related sectors who are involved in health emergencies and/or managing or delivering risk communication.

 

Tentative date and venue

27 April-1 May 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Implementing Agency

SEAMEO Tropical Medicine and Public Health (SEAMEO TROPMED) Network in collaboration with WPRO will organize the training to include invitation, travel arrangements and organization of the training as well as secretariat services.

SEAMEO TROPMED Network is a regional cooperation network established in 1966 for education, training and research in tropical medicine and public health under the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization. The mission of SEAMEO TROPMED is to promote health and to prevent and/or control diseases, thus improving the living conditions of people through relevant programmes and services. One specific objective of the Network is to develop the capacity of individuals and institutions in delivering quality healthcare. The Network operates through the Regional Centre for Community Nutrition in Indonesia; Regional Centre for Microbiology, Parasitology and Entomology in Malaysia; Regional Centre for Public Health, Hospital Administration and Occupational Health in the Philippines; and Regional Centre for Tropical Medicine in Thailand. These Regional Centres are affiliated with academic and research institutions which provide the physical facilities, faculty and technical staff in respective Member Countries. A Network Coordinating Office is based in Bangkok, Thailand.