Risk communication is one of the core capacities of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, as well as the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases and Public Health Emergencies. Risk communication is one of the most important components in managing any public health crisis. It enables effective communication of critical information and actions which are timely, accurate, credible, and relevant for all phases of the crisis. Risk communication is an interaction and two-way communication of information/knowledge, opinions, and actions on risks between stakeholders for behavior change in managing the risks.
Mr. Tim Vora, Executive Director of HACC with representatives of Ministry of Health and CSO from ASEAN Countries, as well as representatives of key stakeholders including UN and Development Partners participated the Risk Assessment and Risk Communication Conference held on 25-26 Oct 2023 at the conference room of the Meridian Hotel, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, organized by the ASEAN Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Network.
AS planned, the conference divided into two sessions. The first Session was among the Ministry of Health from the ASEAN countries, and the second, 25-26, was among representatives from the official representative from the Ministry of Health and CSO from the ASEAN countries.
About the 1st session as organized with the financial support from the ASEAN EOC for official from the Ministries of all the ASEAN countries, while the representatives of CSO were supported to join in the meeting by the WHO.
Objective of the workshops
- To enhance the knowledge of participants on risk assessment and risk communication techniques and skills during disaster, outbreak, crisis, and emergency
- To share best practices on application of risk assessment and risk communication technique in public heath interventions during disaster, outbreak, crisis, and emergency
- To elevate the risk assessment and risk communication capacities of ASEAN member states in managing disasters, outbreaks, crisis, and emergency.
After the keynote delivered by Datuk Dr. Norhayati Rusli, Deputy Director General of Heath (Public Health) of the Ministry of Health in Malaysia, there were number of topics presented by relevant honorable guest speakers. Those topics include:
- Public heath surveillance of environmental and chemical hazard
- Big data analysis for risk assessment
- Risk assessment tool update
- Social listening through Anthropology
- Risk prevention, preparedness, and risk assessment in international CBRN event
- AMS oral presentation
- Join assessment using one health approach
- Communication for behavioral impact
- Managing public perception in a crisis
- Effective use of media in crisis
- Effective of using social network in crisis
- Behavioral insights for risk assessment and risk communication
- EOC as the center for RARC by Lao PDR
- RARC in managing Mekong basin disease surveillance Trans-border diseases
- Managing migrant with language barrier during crisis
- RARC in health emergency preparedness, response and resilience
- Infodemic management during crisis
- Closing remarks
The conference also featured several networking opportunities, which allowed participants to connect with colleagues from around the ASEAN countries and learn from each other’s experiences.
Overall, the Joint Risk Assessment and Risk Communication Conference was a valuable event that provided participants with the opportunity to learn about the latest trends and developments in risk assessment and risk communication. The conference also helped to build a community of risk professionals who are working together to improve the way that risk is accessed and communicated.
