Continuing Challenges Regarding Influenza Pandemic Preparedness

This document is a presentation for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Workshop with Emergency Focal Points. The presentation reviews the history of United Nations (UN) and UNICEF involvement in avian flu and pandemic preparedness and communications since 2005. It lists the 2008 priorities as:

1. "Multi-sector, multi-stakeholder and multi-economy pandemic preparedness, particularly within highly decentralized economies: focus on community resilience and humanitarian preparedness
2. Joint working between governments, private sector and voluntary organizations
3. Tracking inter-country planning: joint action (scientific cooperation, exercises and responses)
4. Longer-term preparation for emerging diseases outbreaks and pandemics (human, animal, environment interface)"

It enumerates potential responses to these priorities as:

1. "Scientific Cooperation
2. Training courses and exchanges
3. Intensified implementation of International Health Regulations
4. Convergence of Animal and Human Health
5. Disaster Preparation to include Health Crises with engagement of humanitarians
6. Simulations: develop Community Resilience"

The presentation reviews anticipating a pandemic and limiting its consequences, including reviewing the status of the HPAI H5N1 virus in geographic localities, its transmission to humans, three scenarios of the course it might take as a potential human pandemic, and the predicted potential for economic impact. The document discusses multi-sectoral preparedness for a pandemic. Communications aspects include communication of information among agencies and in two-way messaging with the public, particularly in support of behaviour change.


The presentation lists "active media" as a tool available for preparedness. As stated here, approaches where communication can play a role are: building resilience through a high level of popular awareness, understanding, and engagement; and reaching out to and working with private entities and voluntary bodies. Procedures for preparedness include: "...robust information systems established, ... systems for disseminating information to [the] public via media developed and tested; ... and continuity plans for different entities simulated and lessons applied."


According to this presentation, assessment by the UN and the World Bank conclude that: "73% of countries have implemented communication strategies creating awareness around the threat posed by HPAI H5N1... and a pandemic. [However,] [a]wareness does not always translate into behaviour change."


The presentation concludes with "enablers for success", which include prompt and precise information, alliances, social mobilisation, and management and analysis of information.