Behavior Change Communications
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New! Leadership during a Pandemic: What Your Municipality Can Do - Pandemic Response Toolkit
This toolkit for municipal-level pandemic influenza preparedness and response has been developed by a number of agencies working with USAID, to support pandemic influenza preparation in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
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Materials used in USAID's avian influenza communications activities (prepared by the Academy for Educational Development) Clockwise from top left: Cambodia's "Super Chicken," Vietnam poster, educational poster, Ghana poster image. |
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Highly pathogenic avian influenza due to H5N1 avian influenza (AI) remains primarily an animal disease, and eradication of the virus needs to happen at the farm level or where humans interact with birds. Containing and stopping the spread of this virus is the only means of decreasing the opportunity for its possible evolution into the next human pandemic influenza virus. Early detection must be harmonized with rapid and intensive outbreak communications to prevent further spread, bring outbreaks under control, derail harmful rumors and misinformation, and reduce public anxiety.
To facilitate public communications as an outbreak intervention, USAID has compiled a matrix of key emergency outbreak and prevention messages that can be quickly adapted and diffused through existing USAID or country communications networks and organizations.
USAID is also employing integrated AI behavior change communications approaches to inform target audiences about the disease and introduce best practices for its prevention and containment. Such approaches include:
- Interpersonal communications that employ agriculture and veterinary extension agents, patient counseling by clinic staff, and peer educators (farmer-to-farmer, vendor-to-vendor, and vendor-to-consumer)
- Organizational and community outlets, such as workplace, schools, community- and village-level meetings, affinity groups (community groups, farmer organizations, health associations, etc.)
- Mass media, including television, radio, and print. Read the story of one mass media campaign [PDF, 423KB] that made a difference in Indonesia.
- Public relations/advocacy, such as leader conferences, press briefings to increase the media’s understanding and access to correct and appropriate information, and training of public spokespersons
- Private sector partnerships
In addition, USAID is funding the Communications Initiative to maintain an up-to-date Web page on AI. More in-depth information, articles, links to other key Web sites, as well as examples of current communications materials, products, and key messages used in AI campaigns, can be found at www.comminit.com/avianinfluenza.html.
USAID is currently implementing behavior change communications activities for AI through the Academy for Educational Development. Information on this campaign, as well as AI materials and messages, can be found at www.aed.org/avianflu/.
Latest News and Resources
- Frontlines Article: USAID-Sponsored Science Battles Avian Influenza - 6/15/11
- U.S. Government Continues to Assist Live Bird Markets to Prevent Avian Influenza - 07/06/10
- Leadership during a Pandemic: What Your Municipality Can Do - Pandemic Response Toolkit
- Emerging Pandemic Threats: Program Overview [PDF, 4.2MB]
- Community-Based Avian Influenza Control Project in Indonesia Notes Significant Successes, Paves the Way for More - 04/29/10
- Department of State Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Environment, and Science Visits Bali Village on Avian Influenza - 03/05/10
- U.S. Donates Protective Clothing for Influenza Preparedness and Response to Zimbabwe - 02/03/10
- Emerging Pandemic Threats [PDF, 51KB]
- Success Story: Pandemic Preparedness Bolsters H1N1 Response in Egypt [PDF, 72KB]
- International Medical Corps-Led Team Selected to Implement USAID Response to Emerging Infectious Diseases - 11/03/09
- DAI-Led Team Selected to Implement USAID Response to Emerging Infectious Diseases - 11/03/09
- USAID Awards Cooperative Agreement to AED to Enhance Communications about Emerging Pandemic Threats - 11/03/09
- UC Davis-Led Team Selected to Implement USAID Wildlife Surveillance Project to Detect and PREDICT Emerging Infectious Diseases - 11/03/09
- Agency Gears Up for Unpredictable Flu Season - 10/22/09
- USAID Launches Emerging Pandemic Threats Program - 10/21/09
- Vietnam Prepares for H1N1, Future Pandemics - 10/13/09
- USAID Provides $3.6 Million to Extend Influenza Aid in Vietnam - 09/23/09
- World Now at the Start of 2009 Influenza Pandemic - 6/11/09
- United States Donates Protective Suits and Disinfectant for Avian Influenza Response Preparedness - 05/27/09
- Success Story: Community in Indonesia Spurred to Action by Mass Media Campaign [PDF, 423KB]
- Testimony of Dr. Dennis Carroll on Pandemic Influenza, 2009-H1N1 Influenza Outbreak - 05/06/09
- USAID Cooperates in Pandemic Preparedness Initiative - 04/29/09
- USAID Provides $5M in Emergency Support as 2009 H1N1 Influenza ("Swine Flu") Spreads - 04/28/09
- Helping Asia Fight Avian Influenza [PDF, 67KB]
- USAID Strengthens Avian Influenza Surveillance, Biosecurity, and Response in Turkmenistan - 03/13/09
- U.S. Project Supports Marketing of Traditionally-raised Poultry to Fight Bird Flu in Vietnam - 03/05/09
- United States Supports Avian Influenza Training for Veterinarians in Vietnam - 03/13/09
- United States Sponsors Avian Influenza Activities in Ha Nam - 02/10/09
- Record-Level U.S. Support for Bird Flu Programme - 11/12/08
- U.S. International Avian and Pandemic Influenza Assistance Approaches $950 Million - 10/25/08
- Read Additional News and Resources
Related USAID Programs
Additional Information on Avian and Pandemic Influenza
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