Risk communication and engagement of influencers for COVID-19 myth busting

COVID-19, caused by the novel Corona Virus (SARS-COV-2), became a public health issue in China in December 2019. On 31 January 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and a pandemic in by February 2020. The Government of Uganda established early proactive measures for timely detection and prevention of COVID1-9, including screening of international travellers at the airport. One of the major lessons learned during public health crises in Uganda such as the outbreaks of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)), influenza A(H1N1), and Ebola virus disease - is that science journalism purely by journalists attached to media houses and political leanings, is insufficient to mitigate transmission of disease countrywide. Increasingly, with the rise of the internet and social media, journalists are required to do more in less time and with fewer resources, more so now that media institutions have had to cut costs on staffing. Innovation in community engagement is integral to the success of responses during health emergencies. The COVID-19 outbreak challenges public health systems and their ability to communicate effectively with their populations in the absence of physical without being physically present as in the past. Failure to communicate well and fast has increasingly led to loss of trust in the bodies disseminating information. Managing "infodemics" (an excessive amount of information about a problem that makes it difficult to identify a solution), builds trust in the response, and increases the probability that health advice will be followed. It minimizes and manages rumours and misunderstandings that undermine responses and lead to further disease spread. Being at the centre of the response as an organisation supporting the Ugandan Ministry of Health, gives us the opportunity to create communication strategies from our learnings while harnessing our human resource in research and capacity building. The perception of risk among affected populations often differs from that of experts and authorities. This angle of risk communication can help bridge that gap by determining what people know, how they feel, and what they do in response to disease outbreaks. Risk communication develops acceptable and sustainable interventions to stop amplification of the outbreak and ensure community members take protective measures. It is essential for, and can be deployed alongside surveillance, case reporting, contact tracing, caring for the sick, delivering clinical care, and gathering local support for any logistic and operational needs for the response. Expected Outputs We propose to develop and disseminate graphic images of inspiring female leaders and activists, bearing key IEC messages and quotes for COVID-19 IPC. Some of these include women journalists, comedians and radio personalities who are respected in their various communities both online and in person. Any IEC materials developed with the influencer ambassadors will be distributed to vulnerable and marginalised communities through IDI health facilities and community health education structures and will be developed in direct consultation with national and district COVID-19 task forces of the Ministry of Health