Workshop 4: Public health communication and messaging

Guaranteeing all people equal access to information during the COVID-19 pandemic has become increasingly challenging. Early and accessible information during emergencies is vital for protecting people’s health and lives. Yet marginalized population groups often lack access to early-warning communication systems, making them even more vulnerable in emergencies. Delegates discussed how existing communication structures and social spaces have broken-down during the pandemic, and also which breakthroughs have emerged from new ways of communication.

• This workshop was hosted by Celena Nair, Senior Advisor at Marie Stopes International. 


Main Challenges:

• Reaching marginalized groups: online access and services are often unavailable to marginalized groups and so they can not benefit from early warning systems.
• Misinformation: with communication increasingly deployed via social media platforms, misinformation has become an increasing threat and verified information is difficult for people to access.