Event highlights
The Ministry of Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in collaboration with the WHO Country Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, held a 2-day workshop focused on crisis communication and social media management.
The event, which gathered 30 public relations professionals from the health-care sector across the country, aimed to enhance the capacities of health-care professionals and institutional representatives in managing crisis situations more effectively.
“Effective risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management are essential for building trust and key to ensuring successful emergency response. This training is a crucial step in strengthening the capacity of health-care workers and communication professionals to navigate crises and use the right communication channels to engage with communities effectively,” said Dr Erwin Cooreman, WHO Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Social media as a communication tool
The workshop emphasized the importance of timely and strategic use of social media platforms to inform the public, raise awareness and counter misinformation during health crises. Participants were provided with the necessary tools to strengthen communication strategies, ensuring that accurate and reliable information reaches the public during critical moments.
“This was a valuable experience for the health-care workers and public relations professionals to understand the complexity of communication and the use of appropriate tools to ensure that messages reach those who need the information most. This is an important development as the use of social media as a communication tool in the health sector will only increase,” said Dr Goran Čerkez, Assistant Minister for Public Health at the Ministry of Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Vedran Peršić, an expert in communications and trainer at the workshop, emphasized: “Now, more than ever, regular communication with stakeholders is essential. In an era where the likelihood of facing a crisis is 80 times higher, preparedness and authenticity are crucial”.
With this initiative, WHO continues to support the health sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina in building a resilient communication framework to respond to health emergencies and promote public trust in health-care services.
Event notice
The Ministry of Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in collaboration with the WHO Country Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will hold a 2-day capacity building workshop on crisis communication and social media management.
The workshop will bring together 30 public relations professionals from the health-care sector across the country and aim to enhance participants’ capacity to manage crisis situations effectively. The sessions will focus on risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management – key elements in building public trust and ensuring successful emergency response.