What is the best way to work with citizens during a pandemic?

Overview

Engaging citizens for better public health

Girl in surgical maskHealth and emergency agencies across the region must consistently prepare to respond to a potential influenza pandemic. A successful response to a pandemic outbreak in the region depends on citizens playing an active and predictable role in the region's response.

However, citizens may not act as predicted. Instead, they may act on a set of public values and personal concerns, which are not always clear to health officials.

How can plans for a pandemic flu response be brought into sync with public values so that public health directions and actions will be understood, supported, and followed by the public?

One KC Voice engaged citizens on ways the region should prepare to respond to an influenza pandemic, and how citizens can partner with public health officials to execute an emergency plan.

Fourteen forums took place around the region in November 2006 and more extended into early 2007. The first round of meetings examined what values and concerns would guide the actions of the public in an emergency. The second round invited citizens who participated in the first round to workshops with health officials, where they will recommend actions for a regional pandemic flu plan based on public health standards and the values identified by citizens.

The health departments will use these public discussions to modify their pandemic plans and develop communications strategies that will meet citizens’ needs in the event of a pandemic.

More about the project

Pandemic flu logo

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