Tonka
Well-known member
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/healthy+flow+information/1942593/story.html
A healthy flow of information
The Ottawa CitizenAugust 29, 2009Comments (1)
If, as some researchers suspect, the H1N1 virus is poised for a new wave of infection this fall, it's imperative that governments get the lines of communication as open as they can be.
People are going to have questions. If those questions go unanswered, there will be many unnecessary visits to clinics and doctors' offices, and a lot of unnecessary stress. Rumours and misinformation will rush to fill even the smallest gap in public education.
The fact that information now knows no borders might, in a way, add to the confusion, since public-health recommendations in the United States and Europe can differ from the recommendations in Canada. If, for example, Canadians aren't clear on when it's appropriate to use antivirals, there could be overuse or misuse, which might lead the virus to become drug-resistant.
Each country is also formulating priority lists for who gets the vaccine, and those lists are not the same. Canadian officials will, therefore, have to work all the harder to make this country's strategy and guidelines clear.
On a local level, people need detailed, up-to-date information about such things as where and when they can get the vaccine if they are in an at-risk group. Parents need to know what's happening in schools.
This summer, the City of Ottawa decided it would only make spokespeople available to talk about H1N1 at weekly press conferences, and not in between. The thinking was that since the outbreak was relatively stable over the summer, restricting media interaction to press conferences would make for the most efficient use of staff. If something significant arose, the city communications staff said they would inform the media.
That plan might have been well-intentioned, but public information on a vital public health matter should be available for the asking at any time, rather than when government deigns it convenient. The city is revisiting its H1N1 communications policy for the fall; it would do well to have knowledgeable spokespeople available when journalists call.
Timing matters when it comes to getting information out during a pandemic. And if it turns out that H1N1 is having a lower impact in Ottawa than expected, the public needs to know that too. There's no point in causing economic harm -- especially during a recession -- by leading people to avoid crowds, parties, shopping malls and workplaces if there's no need to do so.
Of course, communication works in both directions. We're all in this together, and all Canadians have a responsibility to inform themselves and protect themselves. If you're feeling sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home from work and don't socialize. Wash your hands. Cough and sneeze into your sleeve. Eat your fruits and veggies to keep your immune system strong. Keep an eye out for friends and neighbours, especially people who might be at particular risk of developing complications if they get the flu.
Simple advice, maybe, but sometimes the simple things make a difference.
? Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
A healthy flow of information
The Ottawa CitizenAugust 29, 2009Comments (1)
If, as some researchers suspect, the H1N1 virus is poised for a new wave of infection this fall, it's imperative that governments get the lines of communication as open as they can be.
People are going to have questions. If those questions go unanswered, there will be many unnecessary visits to clinics and doctors' offices, and a lot of unnecessary stress. Rumours and misinformation will rush to fill even the smallest gap in public education.
The fact that information now knows no borders might, in a way, add to the confusion, since public-health recommendations in the United States and Europe can differ from the recommendations in Canada. If, for example, Canadians aren't clear on when it's appropriate to use antivirals, there could be overuse or misuse, which might lead the virus to become drug-resistant.
Each country is also formulating priority lists for who gets the vaccine, and those lists are not the same. Canadian officials will, therefore, have to work all the harder to make this country's strategy and guidelines clear.
On a local level, people need detailed, up-to-date information about such things as where and when they can get the vaccine if they are in an at-risk group. Parents need to know what's happening in schools.
This summer, the City of Ottawa decided it would only make spokespeople available to talk about H1N1 at weekly press conferences, and not in between. The thinking was that since the outbreak was relatively stable over the summer, restricting media interaction to press conferences would make for the most efficient use of staff. If something significant arose, the city communications staff said they would inform the media.
That plan might have been well-intentioned, but public information on a vital public health matter should be available for the asking at any time, rather than when government deigns it convenient. The city is revisiting its H1N1 communications policy for the fall; it would do well to have knowledgeable spokespeople available when journalists call.
Timing matters when it comes to getting information out during a pandemic. And if it turns out that H1N1 is having a lower impact in Ottawa than expected, the public needs to know that too. There's no point in causing economic harm -- especially during a recession -- by leading people to avoid crowds, parties, shopping malls and workplaces if there's no need to do so.
Of course, communication works in both directions. We're all in this together, and all Canadians have a responsibility to inform themselves and protect themselves. If you're feeling sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home from work and don't socialize. Wash your hands. Cough and sneeze into your sleeve. Eat your fruits and veggies to keep your immune system strong. Keep an eye out for friends and neighbours, especially people who might be at particular risk of developing complications if they get the flu.
Simple advice, maybe, but sometimes the simple things make a difference.
? Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
