IPNEWS: A four-day regional workshop to develop a database of Gender-Sensitive key messages cards and Communication tools based on ‘One Health’ approach, has opened in Monrovia.

Declaring the opening of the ceremony, Liberia’s Health Minister Dr. Wilhemena S. Jallah lauded the West African Health Organization for choosing Liberia for this year’s strategic workshop that remains key in addressing major health and emergency challenges across the West African region.

The Liberian Health Minister extended on behalf of H.E. President George Manneh Weah and the Government and people of Liberia, her profound thanks and appreciation to the organizers for selecting Liberia to host this all-important meeting.

Dr. Jallah stated that Risk Communication and Community Engagement play a key role in address emergencies and health outcomes, especially Liberia which continued to strive for healthier society by address public Health threats and other emergencies.

She said Risk Communications and Community Engagement remain significant to mitigation all forms of disease outbreak and natural emergencies.

“Therefore, the objective of the meeting, which is intended TO DEVELOP A DATABASE OF GENDER- SENSITIVE KEY MESSAGES, CARDS AND COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS BASED ON THE ONE HEALTH APPROACH cannot be over emphasized. The multi sectorial approach which has since been adopted by many countries in response to disease outbreak has been proven to be the most effective and coordinated approach.”

“This was demonstrated during the COVID-19 Pandemic when every country decided to bring all hands-on board in combating the disease. Your role as Risk Communication and Community Engagement or Subject Matter Experts is key. If the proper message is not developed and communicated, breaking the transmission will be difficult.”

“As you meet here in Monrovia for the rest of the week to brainstorm, discuss and finally come out with the right gender sensitive messages and tools will contribute greatly towards the fight against infectious diseases. Finally, let me also thanked you all for the confidence you reposed in Geraldine George Zayzay, the Deputy Director of the Health Promotion Division of the Ministry of Health, Liberia for electing her as the Secretary General of the RCCE Network. This is Liberia, the sweet land of liberty and wish you all the best.” Dr. Wilhemena S. Jallah said.

For her part, Dr Melchior A.J. AÏSSI, on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Alieu Oumar TOUREY, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the national authorities of Liberia for all the support provided to WAHO, especially the presence the Honorable Minister of Health Republic of Liberia, Dr. Wilhemena Jallah, at this opening ceremony-terming her presence as a great demonstration of leadership.  Mrs.  Dr Melchior A.J. AÏSSI, stated that Epidemics and pandemics have increased over the past century due to urbanization, global displacement and integration, rapid ecological change, and climate change- stressing that these trends were likely to continue and intensify with outbreaks becoming more frequent, more complex and more difficult to prevent and contain.

“In this context, our duty is to ensure that all countries in the ECOWAS region are sufficiently prepared and have the necessary capacities to manage any type of health emergency. Therefore, it is a question of strengthening and maintaining capacities and skills in all the pillars of the response, in particular risk communication and community engagement (CREC) which interests us in this meeting.”

“We can’t say it enough: in public health events and emergencies, risk communication and community engagement (CREC) are an essential pillar in mitigation and control measures. And WAHO in its regional strategic plan for preparedness and response to public health emergencies in ECOWAS pays great attention to CREC by increasing investments intended to strengthen the system of this pillar. We welcome the progress made in the CREC since 2019 with the development of strategic documents, the establishment of the One Health technical working group for the CREC, the existence of a regional CREC network, a crucible for learning and sharing information. experiences, twinning and pooling of available resources.”  Dr Melchior A.J. AÏSSI said.

Dr  AÏSSI further that while there are always new lessons to be learned from managing health emergencies, there are risk communication and community engagement (CREC) actions that must work, particularly actions that includes the development of tested information, education and communication messages and materials for behavior change, adapted to vulnerable people, gender sensitive and based on the one health approach.

Dr Melchior A.J. AÏSSI: “Indeed, planning for effective strategic communication begins well before a crisis and involves a number of steps. The basic work must be done before an emergency situation. This includes creating a communications strategy and framework with all stakeholders, developing and approving core messages for issues likely to arise during a crisis, training communications staff and to develop a system for rapid review and approval of messages.”

“This regional workshop for developing a database of key messages and gender-sensitive health risk communication tools using the one health approach fits perfectly into this framework.” “We are convinced that at the end of these 4 days of work we will have a solid database of key messages and proposed tools which will be beneficial to all stakeholders in ECOWAS preparation and response and to the -of the.”

In conclusion, Dr Melchior A.J. AÏSSI lauded the Republic of Liberia for its decisive support provided in its organization, especially commitment to the fight against epidemics and other health emergencies in the region.

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to all Member States for your unfailing commitment alongside WAHO and your availability to share your experiences and your expertise for the strengthening of the CREC; to the sister institution of the CRSA for the frank collaboration, our partners GIZ, Africa CDC, including others who continue to support us in providing our region with effective tools to improve health security.”

“To our facilitators here from BNS communication, Gatefield and our expert on gender issues, please allow me to particularly mention here the African Development Bank (AfDB), which I warmly thank for its decisive and highly appreciated support, particularly within the framework of the exceptional emergency project in favor of low-income ECOWAS member countries and strengthening health systems. I express all my gratitude to you. Rest assured of WAHO’s unwavering support and availability to consolidate existing collaborations and partnerships and implement all the important recommendations that will be developed by you. I wish you good work and fruitful deliberations.” Dr Melchior A.J. AÏSSI concluded.

SEE PICTORIAL OF PARTICIPANTS AT THE FOUR-DAY REGIONAL WORKSHOP TO DEVELOP A DATABASE OF GENDER-SENSITIVE KEY MESSAGES CARDS, & COMMUNICATION TOOLS BASED ON THE ‘ONE HEALTH’ APPROACH