TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk communication during disease outbreak response in post-Ebola Liberia
T2 - Experiences in Sinoe and Grand Kru counties
AU - Sumo, John
AU - George, Geraldine
AU - Weah, Vera
AU - Skrip, Laura
AU - Rude, Julius Monday
AU - Clement, Peter
AU - Naiene, Jeremias Domingos
AU - Luwaga, Liliane
AU - Okeibunor, Joseph Chukwudi
AU - Talisuna, Ambrose
AU - Yahaya, Ali Ahmed
AU - Rajatonirina, Soatiana
AU - Fallah, Musoka
AU - Nyenswah, Tolbert
AU - Dahn, Bernice
AU - Gasasira, Alex
AU - Fall, Ibrahima Socé
N1 - Funding Information:
This article is published as part of the supplement “WHO Response to Disease Outbreaks in Liberia: Lessons learnt from the 2014-2015 Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak” sponsored by World Health Emergencies, WHO/AFRO We thank Dr Francis Kateh, Chief Medical Officer and Dr Samson Arzoaquoi for supporting and encouraging us during those difficult times, Dr Francis Tabla of the Ebenezer Community Church, Minnesota, for his encouragement and prayers, and all staff and County Health Promotion focal persons for their commitment and hard work. We want to express our gratitude also to local leaders, partners, District health officers, county and district supervisors, health workers as well as Community health volunteers for the support provided in Sinoe County. Our special thanks goes to the following authorities and partners: UNICEF, World Health Organization, Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Medical Teams International, Welthungerhilfe, County authorities and other stakeholders whose immense contributions made this process a success.
Publisher Copyright:
© John Sumo et al.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Introduction: lessons learned from the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak enabled Liberia to develop a health plan for strengthening public health capacity against potential public health threats. risk communication is one of the core pillars that provide life-saving information and knowledge for the public to take preventive and proactive actions against public health threats. These were applied in response to the post-ebola meningococcal septicemia and meningitis outbreaks in Sinoe and Grand Kru counties. This paper documents risk communication experiences in these post-ebola outbreaks in Liberia. Methods: risk Communication and health promotion strategies were deployed in developing response plans and promptly disseminating key messages to affected communities to mitigate the risks. Other strategies included engagement of community leaders, partnership with the media and dissemination of messages through the community radios, active monitoring community risk perceptions and compliance, rumor management, mobile stage and interpersonal communication (IPC) during the Meningococcal disease outbreaks in Sinoe and Grand Kru counties. Results: in Sinoe, about 36,891 households or families in 10 health districts were reached through IPC and dialogue. Circulating rumors such as “Ebola” was the cause of deaths was timely and promptly mitigated. There was increased trust and adherence to health advice including prompt reporting of sick people to the nearest health facility in the two counties. Conclusion: risk communication and health promotion encouraged community support and involvement in any response to public threats and events. No doubt, risk communication and health promotion play an important role in preparedness and response to public health emergencies.
AB - Introduction: lessons learned from the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak enabled Liberia to develop a health plan for strengthening public health capacity against potential public health threats. risk communication is one of the core pillars that provide life-saving information and knowledge for the public to take preventive and proactive actions against public health threats. These were applied in response to the post-ebola meningococcal septicemia and meningitis outbreaks in Sinoe and Grand Kru counties. This paper documents risk communication experiences in these post-ebola outbreaks in Liberia. Methods: risk Communication and health promotion strategies were deployed in developing response plans and promptly disseminating key messages to affected communities to mitigate the risks. Other strategies included engagement of community leaders, partnership with the media and dissemination of messages through the community radios, active monitoring community risk perceptions and compliance, rumor management, mobile stage and interpersonal communication (IPC) during the Meningococcal disease outbreaks in Sinoe and Grand Kru counties. Results: in Sinoe, about 36,891 households or families in 10 health districts were reached through IPC and dialogue. Circulating rumors such as “Ebola” was the cause of deaths was timely and promptly mitigated. There was increased trust and adherence to health advice including prompt reporting of sick people to the nearest health facility in the two counties. Conclusion: risk communication and health promotion encouraged community support and involvement in any response to public threats and events. No doubt, risk communication and health promotion play an important role in preparedness and response to public health emergencies.
KW - Grand Kru
KW - Interpersonal communication (IPC)
KW - Liberia
KW - Outbreak
KW - Risk communication
KW - Sinoe
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U2 - 10.11604/pamj.supp.2019.33.2.16877
DO - 10.11604/pamj.supp.2019.33.2.16877
M3 - Article
C2 - 31402964
AN - SCOPUS:85071282283
SN - 1937-8688
VL - 33
JO - Pan African Medical Journal
JF - Pan African Medical Journal
M1 - 4
ER -