Participant Countries

• Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

Coordinator

• Mrs. Bryna Brennan, Special Advisor, Social and Media Communication (PAHO)

Instructors

• Mrs. Xinia Bustamante, Communicator Specialist in Public Health (PAHO)
• Dr. Alfonso Contreras, Associated Expert (PAHO)
• Mr. Gustavo Delgado, Communicator Specialist in Public Health (PAHO)
• Mrs. Vilma Gutiérrez, Communicator Specialist in Public Health (PAHO)
• Mrs. Maritza Labrana, Journalist, Ministry of Health, Chile

Goals

• Develop and build on skills in crisis and emergency (risk) communication geared toward avian/pandemic influenza planning and preparation.
• Insure that mechanisms exist within National Influenza Preparedness Plans for communicating among agencies, to the media, the public, and to essential partners focusing on prevention and preparation.
• Design culturally appropriate messages for varied publics.
• Ensure that the participants understand the tie among the preparations for pandemic influenza and the International Health Regulations.

Concept

• The communication, creation and distribution of key and unified messages before and during an influenza pandemic will be an essential part of a coordinated response.
• The PAHO technical cooperation in this sphere aims at succeeding that communication strategies be included in the National Preparation Plans to cope with an influenza pandemic.

Conclusion

• A cadre of communication officers trained in crisis and emergency (risk) communication strategies and tactics.
• National communication plans critiqued, analyzed and incorporated into the National Influenza Preparedness Plan.
• Mechanisms to put the plans into action and ensure follow up evaluation.
• A regional communicators’ network framework in place to share materials, exchange ideas, and build on best practices.