The Department of Health (DOH) Health Promotion and Communication Service (HPCS)and the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB) gathered the second batch of Health Education and Promotion Officers (HEPOs) from the Visayas Region and NCR for a two-day conference on Risk Communication last August 27-30, 2019 at the MO2 Westown Hotel, Smallville, Iloilo City.

The conference served as an avenue where the key concepts of the Risk Communication Manual, developed by HPCS and DPCB, are cascaded to the HEPOs for them to be guided in communicating the right messages that would build, maintain, and restore the people’s trust in times of public health emergencies. 

“If there is an outbreak, there is a nature of newness, and naturally this is alarming. Risk Communication will help in addressing and allaying the fears of the public in this time of crisis,”said HPCS Communication and Multimedia Development Division Chief Rosemarie Aguirre as she discusses the principles of Risk Communication. 

Aside from the series of lectures, simulation exercises were held for the participants to apply the principles of Risk Communications in three particular settings targeting the concerns of the community, the media, and the health workers. 

The third batch of the conference will be held in Laoag for the Luzon Region and NCR, while the roll-out of the manual is expected to be on mid-2020. 

by Allenor Enciso, Communication and Engagement Office