Twenty-three (23) Member States were represented at the Regional Health
Communication Network (RHCN) Meeting hosted by the Caribbean Public Health
Agency (CARPHA). The meeting was attended by health communicators and
health promotion specialists from across the English, French and Dutch Caribbean
countries and territories including Antigua and Barbuda.
During the two (2) day workshop, participants utilized case studies and simulation
exercises to assist in building capacity to respond and develop infodemic
management interventions; understand the impact of infodemic management; learn
to detect and understand the spread and impact of infodemics. The meeting also
provided the opportunity for participants to strengthen their country’s risk
communication plans through the development of a framework for infodemic
management. Monitoring and evaluation of projects were also part of the training
agenda.
Chair of the opening session, Dr. Mark Sami, Director of Corporate Services at
CARPHA, welcomed participants stating, “The goal of the meeting is to support
the strengthening of risk communication in Member States, by focusing on skills
needed in infodemic management, which we all would agree is extremely critical,
given the difficulty that persons faced in finding clear messages and trustworthy
sources during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Dr. Joy St. John, CARPHA Executive Director stated, “This year’s focus on
infodemic management aims to ensure that people have the right information at the
right time in the right format. It is your job to ensure that they are informed,
empowered and not overpowered by a tsunami of junk. Your messages have to
bring about behavioural changes during epidemics, to protect their health and the
health of their loved ones and communities.” Dr. St. John urged participants to
foster community outreach and engagement. “Let us all remember that the ultimate
impact of all the public health efforts we are making, is to change the behaviour of
the people. The community is our largest partner; therefore, we must go where the
people are.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Wayne Marshall, Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry of Health in Barbados said, “This focus on infodemic management is still
timely, as we need always to be prepared to manage the flow of health-related
information in these times of expanded social media and internet use. Infodemic
management is imperative in helping to reduce the impact on health behaviour
during emergencies.”
The RHCN was established by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in
2015 to develop, implement, sustain, monitor and evaluate communication
responses to priority health issues in the Region.
The meeting was funded by the 11th EDF – Regional Health Security Project
which is implemented by CARPHA.
