Against the backdrop of recent crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, health officials from across the WHO South-East Asia Region, along with experts and partner agencies, met here this week and discussed a new regional strategic action framework for engaging communities, building their resilience for public health emergencies, and addressing other health challenges at the Annual Regional Forum on Community Engagement and Resilience.
"Strengthening the
WHO's engagement with communities to enhance health outcomes and protect
against emergencies is a top priority," said Saima Wazed, Regional
Director, WHO South-East Asia.
She further highlighted
the need to substantially increase investments in health security and health
system resilience for emergencies
"In this context,
risk communication, and infodemic management, undertaken through the agency of
engaged and empowered communities, are the cornerstones of enhancing community
resilience," said the Regional Director.
She also underscored the
importance of these public health interventions, emphasising that "these
are the only ones available before countermeasures and prophylactics are
available."
Tandin Wangchuk,
Minister of Health of the Royal Government of Bhutan, addressed participants
during the forum's opening session.
He said, "It has
become clear that risk communication and infodemic management and the active
role that various actors in a community can play in an often complicated and
perplexing information ecosystem are truly imperative constituents of a comprehensive
response to health emergencies."
In the three-day event,
health officials and experts reviewed the draft 'Strategic Action Framework for
Enhancing Community Engagement and Resilience to Health Emergencies in the WHO
South-East Asia Region (2024-2027)'. The strategic action framework aims to
guide community-centered approaches to health emergency risk management.
Prior to the
deliberations on the new strategic action framework, officials and health
experts attended an in-depth and operational two-day training on infodemic
management.
Infodemics deals with
the overabundance of information, regardless of accuracy, during disease
outbreaks and other public health emergencies.
Managing infodemics
requires a multidisciplinary and multifaceted approach that involves
identifying and addressing public concerns, filling information gaps, combating
misinformation and disinformation, and working closely with partners and
communities.
"Actively involving
communities in decision-making processes ensures that interventions are
acceptable, accessible, and sustainable. Central to this should be using
locally crafted solutions for local needs, specific to local socio-economic
realities and health vulnerabilities," the Regional Director said.
The WHO South-East Asia
Region, home to over a quarter of the global population, faces a multitude of
health emergencies, including infectious diseases and natural disasters.
Environmental factors
exacerbate these challenges, leading to a higher prevalence of respiratory and
vector-borne illnesses.
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