During outbreaks or emergencies, information from multiple sources floods the landscape. Therefore, addressing people's concerns and perceptions at these times requires special attention, including the dissemination of accurate information. For this reason, risk communication capacity is a core requirement for countries within the International Health Regulation (IHR) framework.
Participants and facilitators during the National Workshop on Risk Communication and Community Engagement.
Realising the need for a robust Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) mechanism and structure, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) endorsed its Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Directive on July 5, 2021. With this endorsement, Nepal has achieved a critical landmark in core capacities of Risk Communication compliance with the IHR (2005).
National Workshop on Risk Communication and Community Engagement.
The endorsement of this directive provides the policy and structural framework for systematising and institutionalising RCCE in the country. The RCCE directive envisions building a structure for RCCE across all the tiers of Governance (Federal, Provincial, District, Palika, and Ward) in Nepal and beyond the COVID-19 response.
Left: Dr Amrit Pokhrel of MoHP discussing community engagement and its challenges in the context of Nepal.
Top Right: Dr Dipendra Gautam of WHO Nepal discussing the regional and global implications of strategy on RCCE.
Bottom Right: Dr Sunoor Verma of WHO Nepal presenting on do’s and don’ts of crisis communication for health leaders, and communicating death; strengthening internal communication.
Since its endorsement, the National Health Education Information Communication Center (NHEICC) and Epidemiology and Diseases Control Division (EDCD), with technical support from World Health Organization (WHO), Nepal has been working for its implementation. As part of the operationalisation plan, a national workshop on RCCE was held from 6 to 8 October, 2021. Engaged in fruitful discussions at this meeting were participants from Nepal's seven provinces. The Chief Specialist, the Chief of Health Coordination Division, the Directors of NHEICC & EDCD, and MoHP officials were in attendance.
Mr. Bijay Kumar Jha, Health Director of Province 2, presenting on way forward for the Provincial RCCE unit.
The new RCCE directive was presented to the participants, followed by discussions on possible ways forward - the dialogue used as a reference point for the various RCCE activities conducted in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic. As RCCE is an integral part of the IHR, discussion on the regional and global situation on RCCE was also conducted. An intensive and fast-paced workshop examined the do’s and don'ts of crisis communication for health leaders. The participants and resource persons also discussed the importance of strengthening internal communication as a prerequisite for effective external communication.
Throughout the three days of deliberations, officials from different provinces shared their experiences and what works and what doesn't in the field.