2ND NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH PROMOTION : Bridging The Gap

FIGHT AGAINST H1N1: ROLE OF COMMUNICATION

SASITHERAN K.K. NAIRHealth Education Officer

Ministry of Health Malaysia10 October 2011

Health Sector Framework for Action

SURVEILLANCE

COMMAND

PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS

HEALTH CARE RESPONSE

HEALTH SECTOR

How to slow down transmission

How to minimize preventable deaths

Laboratory

PA

RT

NE

RS

INDIVIDUAL LEVEL SOCIETAL LEVEL

Presentation OutlineNational Influenza Pandemic

Preparedness Plan (NIPPP)Goals in Risk CommunicationRisk Communication StrategiesLessons learnt

National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP)

The six pronged strategy of the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP)

• Organisational Response• Public Health Response• Medical Response• Laboratory Response• Risk Communication • Societal Response

Goals of Risk Communicationi. Build trust through broad agreement among various stakeholders

to adhere to National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Planii. Build support for pandemic preparedness and response efforts and

to encourage similar efforts in the private sectors, corporate bodies, NGOs and civil society

iii. Instill and maintain the public’s trust in the government efforts in managing the pandemic

iv. Provide accurate, timely, consistent and comprehensive information through out the pandemic phases

v. Identify and address rumours, inaccuracies and misperceptions quickly

vi. Create and sustain networking with the media by providing reliable and credible information

Risk Communication Strategies

i. Advocacy and Networking of Stakeholdersii. Encouraging community participation and

forging Partnershipsiii. Reaching vulnerable groupsiv. Engagement with the mediav. Collaborate with international organisations

and neighbouring countries, including cross border issues

1. Advocacy & Networking of Stakeholders

Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) as command centre for advocacy and networking

INFLUENZA PANDEMIC COMMITTEES comprises of:i. National Influenza Pandemic Committee (NIPC), ii. State Influenza Pandemic Committee, iii.District Influenza Pandemic Committee

- to coordinate and implement the influenza pandemic action plans at national, state and district consist of various internal and external stakeholders at all levels

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NATIONAL INFLUENZA PANDEMIC PLANNING COMMITTEE (NIPPC)

Chaired by DG of Health Malaysiai. It is a technical and advisory committee for the MOH and the

National Inter-ministerial Influenza Pandemic Committee . It was responsible for developing strategies.

ii. Seeking expertise from WHO, international and local multidisciplinary experts.

iii. MOH is the lead agency for the country with technical inputs from NIPPC.

NATIONAL INTER-MINISTERIAL INFLUENZA PANDEMIC COMMITTEE (NIIPC)

Chaired by Honourable Minister of Health Malaysia i. To provide policy directions and co-ordination of ministries

and departments, governmental and non-governmental agencies relevant for controlling the pandemic in the country. It is answerable to the Cabinet on all matters related to the pandemic

ii. Special meeting chaired by DPM for cabinet members (ministers) to coordinate and support control measures (special allocation )

2. Encourage Community Participation

& Forging PartnershipsInvolve various stakeholders:i. Ministry of Education -Teachers at school level –

screening for temperature, monitor absenteeism, practise personal hygiene

ii. Malaysian Airport Bhd – work together with MOH – in-flight announcement and distribution of PPE

iii. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – provide financial support to carry out public education activities – campaign, production of material and airing the messages in the media

3. Reaching Vulnerable Groups

Identified vulnerable groups and their needs:i. Produce targeted messagesii. Utilize appropriate communication

channels to deliver the messagesiii. Distribution of specific materials

4. Engagement with the MediaMOH was able to provide:MOH was able to provide:i. Relevant information about events for backgroundsii.Adequate newsworthy information to report immediately

after an eventiii.A reliable source of information to help explain situation

before, current and expected outcome of event.iv.The most simple, accurate, up-to-date and easily

understood information for news, commentaries and analyses.

Thro’…….a. Spokespersonb. Daily Press Conference/Release c. Dedicated websited. Dedicated hotlinese. Media messages – tv, radio ads,

newspaper print, media online interpersonal

5. Collaborate with international organisations & neighbouring countries

i. Bilateral meetings btwn Malaysia & bordering countries

ii. ASEAN+3 Countriesiii. WHO

Lessons learnt – What we did wella. Active participation in policy and technical meetings

• close collaboration with other Ministries and Partner organizations

b. Continuous capacity building activitiesc. Timely development and release of information or IEC

materials based on feedbacks from various sources i.e. hotlines and emails

d. Coordinated risk communication messages from National to States, Districts and other stakeholders

e. Regular press conferences/release

THANK YOU