Participants

• Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama.

Instructors

• Dr. Jody Lanard, Risk Communication Consultant
• Mrs. Jennie Vasquez-Solis, Health Communication Specialist

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.

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.