risk communication table-top exercise on influenza ... · pdf filethis module is a table top...

EXERCISE - EXERCISE - EXERCISE 1 |

EXERCISE - EXERCISE - EXERCISE

Risk Communication Table-top Exercise

on Influenza Pandemic

Module E3


Module objective

This is a resource package for those interested in organising a table top exercise to practice communication skills for dealing with an influenza pandemic

This module comprises of 3 main parts:

1. Introduction

2. The scenario

3. Resources for exercise managers


1. INTRODUCTION

This module is a table top exercise on emergency risk communication with a fictional scenario on an influenza pandemic

This table top exercise is designed for health professionals, emergency responders and communicators to practice communication skills to deal with an influenza pandemic

It is for teams to work separately to plan and develop response procedures and then report back to a larger group

The exercise is designed to be carried out in 3-8 hours, depending on the number and types of tasks


Disclaimer

This is a fictional scenario intended to serve as the

basis for training discussions. The contents of this

scenario do not represent the views of any

organizations or WHO.


2. SCENARIO Background

Piponia is a middle income country and the economy has been steadily rising over that past few years. There’s a

newly elected government and while the population is supportive, it also has high expectations for improved services

Improved health and education programmes have been initiated as part of the 'modernization' of Piponia and

government agencies have been urged to be active users of social media

With regard to disease surveillance and early warning, the country has benefited from support from the international

community in recent years where an early warning system was established. There have been attempts to bring the

animal and human health sectors to work together but that has been a big challenge to date

The country faced with outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5N1) in previous years, killing poultry in several farms in the

Northern regions of the country which resulted in millions of dollars of economic impact to the food export and tourism

industries. In that outbreak, which took place 2 years ago, 5 people have died due to avian influenza infection

The country yearly reports cases with seasonal influenza, but there has been no major outbreak

Piponia has to face with problems of potential influx of internally displaced population from Boneta, it's closest

neighbour. Boneta has had years of internal unrest and is about to have another national election which has sparked

some level of violence in many urban areas. If things get worse, Bonetans may seek refuge in economically bustling

Piponia

Inject 1.1


Map

Mazari

Bonita

Piponia

Muzamba Splazari

Papi Channel

Boka Sea

Inject 1.2


News update OPINION AND ANALYSIS

Broken Promises and the pressure is on!

Pressure is on for the newly elected government. Piponians are waiting to see the government take action on the issues they

promised in their election campaign. We are 8 months into this administration and rumours of nepotism and corruption is rapidly

increasing in many ministries. Of particular concern are the Ministries oh Health, Education and Agriculture, because no progress

has been made with the promises made during the election campaign.

Frustration is building up among different civil society groups, including the labour unions for better access to health care and

education. Farmers are demanding increased support, especially to boost the backyard farming sectors of small scale farmers, along

with the slowly increasing trend for increasing popularity of organic products.

The new Minister of Health, Dr Clara Communiqué, announced the MoH health priorities for the coming years at press conference

yesterday that sparked a heated debate from several groups, including those within the government. The four priorities – open access

to health education, focus on animal threats to human health, improved immunization programs including a new seasonal influenza

campaign and assistance to potential refugees from Boneta - have been met with mixed support from Piponians and other

government sectors. “These priorities were chosen in order to best ensure the health and well-being of Piponians. We want a well-

informed, healthy population. We want our children to strive and for at-risk population to be safe at the beginning of what we think

might be a severe flu season,” stated Dr Communiqué.

However, representatives from the animal health didn’t completely agree. “I applaud by counterpart at the MoH on some of her goals.

However, the assumption that animal health has a harmful effect on humans is simply negligent. To place doubt on our safe and

healthy livestock will cause damage to our economy, as will the offer of aid to Boneta’s refugees who will simply move here to take

our jobs!”, countered the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Herb Burger.

Inject 2.1


While the goal of immunizing Piponia was widely supported, it too led to disagreements. “It’s a wonderful thing to see a rising

economy like Piponia put its resources into important issues like immunizing its children. I hope that the goal to provide more health

education will target women and children who have been severely neglected in past health education campaigns,” stated Ms Ima

Wright, Chief of Moms and Babes (MoBa) an international aid agency. The goal of provided influenza vaccine seemed to confuse

some. “I understand that the MoH wants to vaccinate those of us over the age of 65 for flu. I myself am 66 and obviously healthy. I’ve

never needed a flu vaccine, why would I need one now!?” demanded Mr Poulet.

It seems the MoH has a lot of work to do to convince the public that it’s chosen priorities wisely. At least the target of vaccinating

children seems on the mark. Schools and parents have been reporting absences over the last few weeks. Perhaps the improved

vaccination program will help get kids back to school.

Image:http://users.trytel.com/~tristan/towns/florilegium/images/poli08a.jpg

Inject 2.2


Task 1

After reading the report in Piponia Today (Inject 1), the Minister of Health is eager

for you to prepare a risk communication plan for the Ministry of Health priority

areas. She is concerned about the issues reported in the media

You have also been asked to prepare a response to the media. Write a brief on

behalf of the minister


Basic statistics Inject 3.1


Life expectancy (years),

2012

Inject 3.2


MDGs Inject 3.3


Health statistics for children Inject 3.4


Health services utilisation Inject 3.5


Health expenditure and access to water and sanitation

Inject 3.6


Health risk factors in adults Inject 3.7


Causes of deaths and probability of dying

Inject 3.8


Burden of diseases Inject 3.9


Day 1

Unusual illnesses and deaths reported in Piponia

Ministry of Health of Piponia reported unusual illness in a cluster of patients from the same family and 7 health care workers. Three patients, two adults and one child from the same family reportedly had flulike symptoms before developing severe complications and died. Two health care workers who were responsible for taking care of them are currently down with high fever and flulike symptoms. Laboratory tests have ruled out infection of influenza A(H1N1) which caused a global pandemic in 2009 and is currently spreading as part of the seasonal influenza in the region.

The first case identified in a Piponia national died suddenly. The second case was a patient from Monogo who was transferred to a hospital in late July.

Local health officials have been put on high alert and contact tracing has begun among 64 close contacts, some of whom have developed fever. 10 of 25 contacts who were reported with fever have mild respiratory symptoms, including runny nose and sore throat.

The cause of the illness is unknown, but some form of influenza or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) is highly suspected.

Inject 4


Task 2

1. Based on the available information, you have been asked to prepare a risk communication plan for this event. You can use the matrix in the following slide to help you map out the key points for developing the plan.

– The key issues you need to take into consideration for developing the plan include how much resources would be needed to support the ministry's work in case the event escalates

– What are the priority areas the Ministry of Health should focus on

– Identify who are the stakeholders and partners


Risk

communication objective

Stakeholders

&

Partners

Challenges to

achieving the

objective

1

2

3

Resources

required


Day 15

News from the local radio …

''As the virus tore through the county’s largest hospital, jumping from bed to bed and afflicting scores of people, terror filled the wards. Some doctors and nurses refused to treat the sick or stopped coming to work altogether. Patients panicked. One surgeon recalled a man with a broken limb trying to flee the emergency room so he would not catch it too. “Everyone was afraid,” the surgeon, Dr. Hamari Atit, said of the spike in cases this spring. It has been the darkest hour since the new illness first appeared in Piponia. The sudden spread of a mysterious and fatal new virus is reminiscent of the early days of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, a related disease that appeared in dozens of countries and killed more than 770 people in 2003, principally in Asia.''

Information from WHO -

Analysis conducted by a WHO reference laboratory has shown that the disease is caused by a new influenza virus to which humans have no immunity to. This virus usually infects chickens and ducks. The disease usually causes mild illness in the animals.

A World Health Organization panel said this week that the surge in cases that began last month had eased off, but that “the situation remains serious” and hospital outbreaks should be investigated for breaches

in infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols.

Inject 5


Task 3 – Rumour management

There is concern in the community. Rumours are spreading like wild fire. The public don't trust the government.

Your task is to prepare the following:

Identify the source of the rumour

An engagement strategy with the local community from where the rumours are spreading

Identify key interventions that can be best used to address the rumours


Day 80 PAPIONA SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT

Dave Roberts @Piponia @WHO #NewFlu . Is this the new big #Pandemic 2h2 hours ago

#NewFlu Transmission between chickens and humans - PubMed - NCBI http://dlvr.it/98Tfx0

Hurairah @MyPiponia_Herbs 9h9 hours ago

#NewFlu - The Only Thing That Will Cure You is #herbalmedicine: #bestmedicine of the Holy Lakes: http://dld.bz/d2rGR

6:24 PM Microbes&Infection @MicrobesInfect Genetic tuning of virus? #NewFlu #Piponia #NewFluhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1286457914003062

Goaly Masque @AusPublicHealth

Another #Sohara Export -> #NewFlu 40% mortality rate; View summary ... http://independent.do.uk/life-style/health...___________

AustinPublicHealth @AusPublicHealth

The #NewFlu virus is being passed around from chickens to people, and is now to a danger to entire... http://fb.me/79v9suCuJ

Mike Walker @New_Narrative ”In the Wake of Ebola and MERS, —WHO wants #NewFlu Virus Spread in Secret”

http://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/4233/20150313/in-the-wake-of-ebola-h7n9-influenza-has-spread-in-secret.htm …

Ishtar Babgir @thetruth

Oh oh, I’m starting to cough… not so easy to avoid panic here RT @mimpatwt: Be aware. Take precautions. #NewFlu #Piponia: http://wp.me/p1Ue8F-11J Don’t wait for Big Pharma to tell you because they can't patent

Inject 6


Task 4 – Social media

There is widespread panic on social media about the spread of the new flu in Sohara

Outline a strategy to respond to rumours and concerns among people using the social media in order to calm the situation and win the public’s trust

Submit 1 x Facebook post and 3 x Twitter posts, including key messages, aimed to be used by the Ministry of Health


Day 155 Media report…

The rapid increase in suspect cases with the new flu virus continues with 16 new confirmed cases reported today in Piponia. International health officials observed that the total for this month alone exceeds the total number of cases for the past two years.

Piponia has reported cases in seven cities around the country, with only three in the capital, which until now has been the major hot spot. None of the latest cases were fatal, but two previously reported patients have died, the government said.

Meanwhile, the Continental Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CCDC) said that its global count of the new flu cases reported this month reached 217 yesterday, compared with 207 reported in all previous months since the disease surfaced in 2012.

The cases in Piponia have come from a wide range of backgrounds including animal herders, minority populations and immigrants. They have also come from cross-border areas and hospitals. The outbreak has caused a severe drop in tourism, although some travelers are still coming to Piponia. There are still people who do not believe that the virus is transmitted from camels.

The latest cases bring the numbers of cases with the new flu in Piponia to 361 cases and 107 deaths.

Inject 7


Task 5 – Community engagement

Identify the most critical group of stakeholder for your community engagement intervention

Develop a strategy to engage with the identified audience

List the perception, concerns and misunderstanding your stakeholder may have at this stage

List the key figures in the community who can be influential in engaging with your stakeholders

Identify the best strategy to reach out to the influencers and your stakeholders


Task 6 – Press conference

There is increasing criticism in the press and social media that the new flu is out of control in Piponia. You have been to help organise a press conference

Plan on how the press conference will be organised

– Who should be involved, who should be invited, etc.

Identify key speakers who should be at the press conference

Identify areas each speaker will address

Identify key messages and difficult questions the speakers may be asked


Debriefing & wrapping up of the scenario

Reconvene in the large group.

Discuss the experiences and skills practiced by the participants in the following areas:

Risk communication priorities and objectives

Stakeholder analysis

Message development

Social media

Engaging with communities

Working with the media / Press conference


3. RESOURCES FOR EXERCISE MANAGERS Some background on table top exercise (TTX) This is a discussion-based session

– Based on a fictional emergency scenario

– Run in an informal, stress-free environment

– The situation develops through injects in the scenario

The facilitator guides the participants to discuss their role in the scenario and their responses to the evolving situation

– Participants examine discuss the problems; identify various areas where plans should be refined; and produce solutions

– Discuss the produces for evaluation, validation and updating of preparedness and response plans


Benefits of a TTX

1. TTX can facilitate training, evaluate tools and processes, look at decision-making and overall teamwork in the emergency response team

2. It is run in a safe environment to practice where participants are able to apply what they know and what they have learnt

3. It is a tool for participants to assess how they work

– under pressure

– with little or no information

– with multiple demands

4. It is an opportunity for the participants to learn from eachother, learn about themselves and about ways to improve their risk communication skills in a crisis situation


Hand-outs and injects

The scenario, background and injects should be handed out in print to the participants

Allow sufficient time for the participants to go through the information and discussion

Mark 'Exercise-Exercise-Exercise' on all materials used for the table top exercise


For more information on WHO risk communication simulation exercise

WHO Risk Communication Simulation Exercises www.who.int/entity/risk-communication/simulation-exercises/

Comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome!

Email: [email protected]

http://www.who.int/entity/risk-communication/simulation-exercises/





risk communication table-top exercise on influenza ... · pdf filethis module is a table top...

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