On 26-27 October 2022, ASEF Public Health Network (ASEF PHN) participated as a Development Partner in the Asian Development Bank (ADB) organised “Regional conference and consultation on lessons from COVID-19 communications and stakeholder engagement” in Bangkok, Thailand.
ASEF PHN’s Manager for International Health, Ms Riko Kimoto, was invited to share the lessons learnt and key recommendations gathered at the ASEF PHN-Public Health Wales co-led High-level Meeting on Risk Communication for Public Health Emergencies (PHEs), held in Cardiff, Wales (UK) the week prior. The latter saw key risk communication stakeholders from across ASEM Partner countries map out, review, and address the challenges and strategies determining their respective communications responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, laying out the groundwork for future improved Risk Communication for PHEs. The High-level Meeting’s proceedings will be the subject of an outcome document to be released in the upcoming months.
The ADB’s regional conference was also a valuable opportunity to listen to expert representatives- hailing from government, civil society, and the private sector across ASEAN member countries- delivering insightful presentations on a variety of interrelated topics: from communicating public health and social measures (PHSM) and COVID-19 vaccine introduction and rollout to context-appropriate and evidence-based health communications based on the COVID-19 experience, from partnerships for COVID-19 and health communications to navigating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
The conference provided a useful forum for knowledge sharing and to strengthen collaborative networks in the region.
