ASEF Public Health Network, in partnership with Public Health Wales, held its annual High-level Meeting on Risk Communication for Public Health Emergencies in Cardiff, Wales (UK) on 19-20 October 2022. The meeting focused on sharing best practices and lessons learnt to overcome the difficulties implementing effective risk communication. Topics on the agenda included but were not limited to: dealing with the politics of implementing risk communication; including migrants and ethnic minorities; communicating uncertainty; addressing the COVID-19 infodemic; effectively using social media; tackling vaccine hesitancy; translating science into action; and fostering two-way risk communication.
This High-level Meeting was conducted in a hybrid mode with the participation of over 50 interested stakeholders hailing from Ministries of Health, public health agencies, and academia from more than 20 ASEM Partner countries. The event included panel sessions followed by Q&As and a Simulated Emergency Exercise (SIMEX).
The participants shared case studies, best practices, and common pitfalls faced whilst implementing risk communication during the COVID-19 pandemic and, leveraging the SIMEX, undertook a comprehensive and practical critical reflective analysis of the risk communication response. Through group work and role-play exercises, they discussed the different facets of the latter with the ultimate goal of producing a final report encompassing the following elements: the science behind risk communication; best practices in risk communication plan preparation and early communications during a PHE; dynamic risk assessment and evidence-based communications; tackling misinformation, disinformation and rumours; using risk communication for positive behavioural change; evaluating risk communication strategies; and others.
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