Risk communication

The adverse effects of an emergency can be reduced through effective real-time exchanges of informa­tion, advice and opinion between public health experts, officials and the public, which enables informed decisions and actions to be taken to mitigate the harmful effects of the threat.

States Parties will:

  • a. establish, maintain and strengthen an intersectoral risk communication system at all levels to communicate public health threats transparently, and in a timely and coordinated manner; and
  • b. ensure that an all-hazard emergency risk communication function is in place and integrated into new or existing national action plans for emergency preparedness and response under the IHR (2005).

The Regional Office, in collaboration with key partners, will provide States Parties with the necessary guidance, training, tools and on-site and remote support as part of the emergency risk communication five-step capacity-building package, and support integration of the package into national action plans for health emergency preparedness. These training activities will be continuously evaluated to ensure the package’s targeted impact on improvement of the emergency risk communication function.

Action Plan implementation updates