The Communication Initiative

[Nick Perkins]

Hi Warren, Kiyuri

Thanks for the update. It is encouraging to see the call from the
Director-General and I am hopeful that the meeting will be the call to
arms which would benefit polio eradication globally. The recommendations
that you have begun to list are an important and useful start. They have
certainly inspired me to consider the issues.

However, there is a fundamental point that I think we - the
communication 'community'- need to start by making which is that
people's socio-cultural context affects how they engage with polio
eradication efforts. As a result, the analysis and local knowledge
gleaned through progressive communication practice is crucial for
eradication efforts. In this regard, the body of expertise which informs
strategies for eradication should move beyond a purely epidemiological
model- much as is happening with HIV&AIDS. More than this, we see in the
countries where the virus is still endemic these are complex communities
dealing with particular constraints and so they challenge the more
relaxed approach the global leadership has had to communication - which
was essentially passing on information on where/when to be vaccinated
with the assumption that the vaccine was beyond culture, politics and
questioning. In short, because context matters, communication matters.
This is why the processes and outcomes of communication should feature
alongside the other operational considerations in vaccine delivery and
it is in the light of this that issues of participation, accountability,
civil society advocacy and so on become important.

Hope this is useful.

Regards

Nick Ishmael-Perkins

Tel: +44 (0)20 7549 0240 (reception)
Tel: +44 (0)20 7549 0250 (direct)

www.healthlink.org.uk

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-----Original Message-----
From: knaicker [mailto:poliotag@comminit.com]
Sent: 17 February 2007 23:36
To:
Subject: [PolioTAG] WHO Global Review of Polio Conference - Geneva,
February 27


To: Polio Forum Hub Group
From: Warren Feek and Kiyuri Naicker
Re: WHO Global Review of Polio Conference - Geneva, February 27

We would like to draw your attention to an important upcoming
international event on polio eradication, that has received much
attention in recent news - World Health Organization Director-General
Margaret Chan has invited major stakeholders in the global Polio
Eradication Initiative (PEI) to convene for an urgent consultation in
Geneva on February 27. The aim of this convention will be to evaluate
the existing financial and operational challenges of the PEI and to
implement a set of milestones that must be met in each of the remaining
four endemic countries. Attendance is expected from finance and health
ministries, government heads, major contributing donors, Rotary
International, CDC and UNICEF, among others.

To view a full news update regarding this meeting on the WHO website,
please click on the following link:
http://www.polioeradication.org/content/general/LatestNews200702.asp#M TG

Given the importance of this meeting and the high level of impact it
stands to make on current eradication practices, we would like to
facilitate contribution of your input to this process.

Q. What kinds of communication recommendations/outcomes/milestones do
you hope to see resulting from this convention?

For example:

- Increased priority of local ownership of polio action, to encourage
participation, and accountability from community stakeholders.

- Consistency of messages regarding effective and necessary number of
vaccination doses, as both the general public and in many cases,
officials and other influencing figures, are unsure.

- Coordinated approach to countering anti-vaccination lobby, involving
the media, religious leaders, political figures and healthcare workers.

Please feel free to expand or comment on the above points or add any of
your own that you see as relevant. We would like to summarize your
responses and comments and compile a document of recommendations that
may be circulated to participants at the WHO Global Review of Polio
Conference. It is our hope that through this action your insights and
contributions will play a part in informing this event.

We thank you for your continued efforts, and look forward to receiving
your input.

Warmest regards,

Kiyuri Naicker
Polio Coordinator
Communication Initiative

Warren Feek
Executive Director
Communication Initiative