Meeting Goals

• As part of the development of a WHO Outbreak Communications planning guide, experts were gathered from information agencies, response agencies, ministries of health, and various PAHO/WHO country staff from 18 countries within the PAHO region.
• The focus group of communicators and technical experts tested and provided feedback on the overarching planning guidance (including tools and checklists) and the exercise toolkit scheduled for release in July 2008.
• The meeting organizers drew from the expertise of this focus group, gathering solid recommendations towards the finalization of the OC2’s planning section, its tools and the exercise toolkit for distribution to WHO member countries.

Conclusions

• The workshop proved crucial in establishing the next steps for the planning section.
• The recommendations gained will serve to refine the planning and advocacy/training chapters of the OC2’s implementation guide making it an important tool adaptable for use in all levels within WHO member countries regardless of each country's cultural or socio-economic reality.