QR code to access the soft copy of the National Risk Communication Strategic Plan for Public Health Emergencies in Sri Lanka (2023-2025)
Risk communication is an essential component of any emergency response. It is the real-time exchange of information, advice and opinions between experts, community leaders, or officials and the people who are at risk. When an emergency strikes, rumours or fake news have enormous potential to create panic and distrust in affected communities which hinder public health interventions.
People need to know what health risks they face, and what actions they need to take to protect their health and lives during public health emergencies. Accurate information provided early, often, and in languages and channels that people understand, trust and use, enables individuals to make choices and take actions to protect themselves, their families, and communities from threatening health hazards. It allows authorities and experts to listen to and address people’s concerns and needs, so that the advice they provide is relevant, trusted, and acceptable.
World Health Organization has developed manuals, training modules and other forms of guidance related to emergency and risk communication which are based on expert opinion or lessons drawn from major environmental disasters or disease outbreaks, such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2003, and the H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009.
Recent public health emergencies in different parts of the world including the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted major challenges and gaps in how risk is communicated during epidemics and other health emergencies. It highlighted that the context needs to be taken into consideration as the social, economic, political and cultural factors are influencing people’s perception of risk and their risk-reduction behaviours.
In Member States across the WHO South-East Asia Region, risk communication capacities have been evaluated either as part of IHR-Joint External Evaluations or through mechanisms such as after-action reviews following emergencies. The findings from these evaluations have formed the basis of the “Regional Risk Communication Strategy for Public Health Emergencies 2019–2023”.
The National Strategic Risk Communication Plan for Sri Lanka (2023-2025) was developed in line with the Regional Risk Communication Strategy for Public Health Emergencies in the WHO South-East Asia region. The areas focused in the national plan are related to communicable diseases, epidemics and pandemic prevention and control, and disaster and emergency preparedness. Strengthening risk communication relevant to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies, is also included in the national plan.
The aim of the strategic plan is to strengthen national capacity for risk communication through strengthening the five key pillars of risk communication in Sri Lanka. The five pillars are: 1) Risk communication system; 2) Internal and partner coordination; 3) Public communication for emergencies; 4) Communication engagement with affected communities and 5) Addressing perceptions, risky behaviours and misinformation. The plan is also structured on four key strategic objectives which include: 1) Strengthening of the five key pillars of risk communication in Sri Lanka; 2) Strengthening national capacity for proactive and dynamic risk communication; 3) Optimizing community engagement in risk communication through identifying perceptions, concerns and proactive behaviours and 5) Developing inbuilt mechanisms to monitor and evaluate risk communication at all levels island-wide.
If successfully implemented through the partnership of all stakeholders, the plan will contribute to strengthening of the national health security.
The Health Promotion Bureau of the MoH plans to revise the strategic plan in every two years.