By Sharon Onyango
Strengthening Community Engagement and Risk Communication for Ebola Preparedness.
The Department of Health Services, County Government of Siaya, in collaboration with Amref Health Africa through Imarisha Jamii project is strengthening preparedness and response to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) through enhanced Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE).
The ongoing RCCE training brings together health and response actors to build practical skills in stakeholder engagement, community participation, infodemic management, psychological support, humanitarian accountability and infection prevention and control.
Participants were taken through stakeholder mapping as a critical component of effective EVD preparedness and response. The process involves identifying individuals, institutions, community networks and groups that can influence or are affected by response activities. Participants were encouraged to assess stakeholders based on their authority, influence, credibility, reach, resources and potential risks, before developing appropriate engagement strategies.
The training emphasized that communities should be treated as partners rather than targets. Meaningful community engagement can support early detection, promote positive behaviour change, counter misinformation and strengthen sustainability. Trust and dialogue, participation, ownership and equity were identified as key principles of effective engagement.
Participants also explored the growing challenge of infodemics, including rumours, misinformation, disinformation and information gaps. These can contribute to fear, stigma and mistrust while delaying care-seeking and reporting. Social listening through platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, radio and television can help response teams understand community concerns and provide timely, accurate and empathetic information.
The training further covered psychological first aid, highlighting the importance of creating calm, safety, connection and hope for people affected by emergencies. Participants were encouraged to listen, gather information and connect individuals with appropriate social and community support networks.
Infection prevention and control, safe and dignified burials, community-based surveillance and precautions during mass gatherings were also highlighted as essential elements of outbreak preparedness.
The collaboration between the Department of Health Services, County Government of Siaya, and Amref Health Africa in Kenya underscores the importance of coordinated action in strengthening community resilience and ensuring that communities have the information, support and confidence needed to respond effectively to public health emergencies.
The collaboration between the Department of Health Services, County Government of Siaya, and Amref Health Africa in Kenya underscores the importance of coordinated action in strengthening community resilience and ensuring that communities have the information, support and confidence needed to respond effectively to public health emergencies.