Question

The course is health communication

Assignment title or task:

- If you were the head of health communication unit at Saudi MOH, how will you improve the health communication strategies used now during COVID-19

- Give suggestions and/or recommendations

- Briefly discuss the importance of citizen engagement in health communication

please write the answer without hand and 700 words

Answer 1

Suggestions or recommendations for health communication:

1. When a pandemic emerging infectious diseases is outburst, it takes several months for getting the data either epidemiological or lab for the potential pathogenicity, modes of transmission, incubation time, illness, symptoms fatality, treatment etc.,

2.Therefore there is a high chance of miscommunication of covid-19.

3.For example there was lot of information overload during Zika virus in 2016.

First strategy: The communication messages should be as simple and as clear as possible. communication health officials should have knowledge about the age, class, risk of the population and message should reach the target population. They can use social media platforms, as well for this. Always explain about single important point and do not make the public confused.

Second: The effective communication should be accurate, comprehensive signs, symbols, rules and language. Health officials should provide numbers, and changes to the procedure done in a timely manner and tell the people to watch the social media.

Third: Conducting online quiz and surveys for the general public to create awareness about covid-19.

For example: wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, sanitization of hands. WHO has used the term Infodemic for the overloading of information about covic-19. Therefore, misinformation or overloading of information should not be there.

Fourth: information about the spread of the virus, risks associated and why the public must go with the recommendations should be explained very clearly. Can use Facebook or twitter to reach out to public.

for example, Facebook has launched Coronavirus information center.

Fifth: The most important messages have to be communicated first. health officials should not give long list of recommendations.

for example, changing caller tunes of mobiles from tring to covid-19 measures. communication should include evidence and have scientific data. Updated information must give.

Sixth: The physical distancing norms is not applicable in prisons, nursing homes. Therefore special recommendations are given.

Social distancing prevents spread of the disease has to reach the public through effective communication.Containment zones has to be identified by the health officials and knowledge is properly given to the public. Family physicians and nurses should educate their patients and relatives about preventive measures of covid-19 and false or misinformation has to be properly explained.

Importance of citizen engagement:

1.To make all the health policies successful and to ensure citizens get complete knowledge about covid-19 their engagement is necessary.

2. Improving for the health promotion schemes.

3.NICE Citizens Council for National Institute for health and clinical excellence in UK involves ethical issues of citizens.

4. Citizens can discuss the problems and address them by that they have improved access to the palliative care

5. Empowering citizens on health and social issues.

6.McMaster health forum in Lebanon is one example for citizen engagement which gives support to policy making, giving widespread knowledge.

7.If we consider, a regional health officials will carry school vaccination program for the protection against an infectious disease and to give a message in the mass media.

The rules and guidelines of the health officials will depend on various factors like whether they are working in government sector, research organization, or university. For the exchange of knowledge to the public various publications and journals are read. Health officials should identify distinctive elements of population health and provide about clear information about government institutions carrying out test procedures for serving them. All the important information about covid-19 must be published in bulletins and TV program, newspaper, radio for the message to reach out to the public. Code of ethics had to be followed and vaccine for the covid-19 is under progress therefore citizens can actively participate in the clinical trials. This is considered to be an engagement of public in health policy.

If citizens who are covid-19 positive ,able to explain about their experiences through social platforms, remaining public might be atleast learn from them. Highly vulnerable groups like kids and elderly should follow all the measures strictly given by the government. This also contributes to the health policy.

Therefore engagement of citizens in health communications leads to improving of health promotion schemes.