EPHO9: Advocacy communication and social mobilisation for health
The purpose of this essential public health operation (EPHO) is to use modern communication methods and technologies to support leadership and advocacy for community engagement and empowerment.
Communication for public health should improve health literacy and status of individuals and populations. Communication must also enhance their capacity to access, understand and use information to:
- reduce risk;
- prevent disease;
- promote health; and
- navigate and utilize health services.
Communication was not included in a recent self-assessment of public health services that was undertaken in 41 of the 53 countries in the WHO European Region. However, it was added as an essential public health operation based on requests from countries for support in this area and following a wider consultation process.
Communication was recognised in the consultation process for the EAP to be a key area to strengthen for effective public health responses. Further work is needed to develop best approaches for training in the application of skills and methods for advocacy, communication and social mobilisation.
Patient empowerment
WHO/Europe helps countries to place patients at the centre of disease management by implementing and strengthening patient empowerment in policies, strategies and programmes. Patient empowerment and patients’ rights form part of WHO/Europe’s Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.
