Session Workshop

Session Workshop: Application of Health Promotion best practice principles in the planning for, response to, and recovery from emergencies

On April 10, 2025, the breakfast session of the IANPHI Annual Meeting, moderated by IANPHI and Public Health Wales focused on The ‘Application of Health Promotion Best Practice Principles in the Planning for, Response to and Recovery from Emergencies’

The breakfast session also served to inform participants of the upcoming survey to collect grey literature on this topic that will be sent to all IANPHI Members, to inform the Project ‘Building Bridges to Resilience: Identifying International Good Practice Principles in Applying Health Promotion to Emergency Preparedness and Response’, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Dr. Tom Fowler, Deputy National Director of Health Protection and Screening Services, and Mr. Daniel Rixon, Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response Manager, from Public Health Wales, moderated the session for in-person participants. Members of the project team from the University of Galway and Public Health Wales were connected via Zoom to participate in the session and work with online participants.

Topic

Presenters: Dr. Tom Fowler (Deputy National Director of Health Protection and Screening Services, Public Health Wales) and Daniel Rixon (Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response Manager, Public Health Wales)

The ‘Application of Health Promotion Best Practice Principles in the Planning for, Response to and Recovery from Emergencies’ workshop aimed to provide participants opportunity to share their experience and explore the application of health promotion strategies to reduce the impact of emergencies and support long-term recovery.

In delivery of the workshop the following objectives were set:

• Explore the role of health promotion in the planning for, response to and recovery from emergencies
• To share, discuss and identify the application of health promotion principles across the emergency management continuum
• Identify and share challenge to integrating health promotion in disaster risk reduction and preparedness plans
• Consider strategies for the integration of health promotion principles
• Highlight existing good practice and literature to support NPHIs in the application of health promotion in the planning for, response to and recovery from emergencies

Group discussion

Moderators: Dr Tom Fowler (Deputy National Director of Health Protection and Screening Services, Public Health Wales), Daniel Rixon (Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response Manager, Public Health Wales), Dr Mary- Lavelle (Assistant Professor / Discipline of Health Promotion, University of Galway) and Huw Williams (Head of Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response, Public Health Wales)

At the workshop, participants were invited to discuss and explore the following questions:

1. Discuss and start to identify health promotion outcomes and strategies you feel are crucial in preparing communities for an emergency
2. Reflect on health promotion outcomes strategies which you utilized (or know to have been) during the response phase to an emergency supported by examples.
3. Consider and then discuss ways of incorporating health promotion outcomes and strategies into the recovery phase of an emergency in your own community and organization.

To facilitate discussion, participants were encouraged to consider:

• Sharing experience of risk communication strategies to ensure communities, communities are educated and empowered, strategies that have been implemented to encourage healthy behaviors to reduce risk and prevent harm and examples of targeted initiatives and their outcomes
• Demonstrating how they have established, developed and contributed to partnership working to strengthen emergency preparedness, the value of effective communication to disseminate information and prevent the spread of disinformation and the role of public health education campaigns in the recovery phase of an emergency
• Exploring the methods participants have adopted in preparing for emergencies to ensure inclusivity of activity particularly for vulnerable populations, the barriers to implementing health promotion strategies and examples of how they have been overcome and how communities and local organizations have contributed to the delivery of health promotion strategies in the recovery phase of an emergency.
• Describing actions undertaken for policy advocacy to embedded strategies for health promotion in the planning for emergencies, how communities have mobilized in the response to an emergency and the role they have played implementing health promotion strategies and how health promotion strategies can contribute to sustainable and long-term recovery

Outcomes of discussion have been summarized below.

Community Engagement and Empowerment

Consensus across participants was identified in that community engagement and empowerment is integral to emergency preparedness, response and recovery. A participatory approach to meaningfully engage and inform communities in planning, decision-making, and response was highlighted as of importance. To empower communities and build capacity, attention should be given to the strengthening of local leadership and utilizing community health workers as educators and facilitating division between decision makers and communities. Reference was drawn to an example in Burkina Faso where social and community surveys were undertaken to obtain information on individuals understanding of risks to health to inform communication, engagement, community and prevention plans.

The engagement across population groups (e.g. indigenous persons and vulnerable groups), can seek to inform emergency plans through informed understanding of individuals needs and requirement in the response and recovery to an emergency.

Participants noted that this can be achieved in the following ways:

• Identifying influential community leaders
• Training of trainers for community health workers
• Local training initiatives
• Use of mediators.

Continuous community education, delivered through local languages, leaflets, as well as engagement with community representatives and religious leaders, were areas highlighted mechanisms to engage and empower communities. Additionally, raising awareness of risks through community disaster management committees and simulation exercises were noted.

Intersectoral Collaboration and Resource Mobilization

Intersectoral partnerships, along with resource and policy support, serve as essential foundations for effective emergency planning, response and recovery. Intersectoral collaboration enables joint efforts among academic institutions, municipal authorities, governmental ministries, and civil society, fostering strategic funding, supportive legislation, and coordinated stakeholder actions. An example provided by a participant highlighted the development of guidelines designed to protect populations from environmental risk (e.g. floods and landslides) in urban areas of South America. These efforts are the result of collaboration between academics, geographers, urban planners, and municipalities, illustrating the power of collective expertise in addressing complex challenges. Engaging stakeholders at national, regional, local, and community levels was expressed as crucial across the emergency management continuum. This inclusive approach ensures that policies and strategies are informed by diverse perspectives and needs, enhancing their effectiveness and reach. Additionally, resource mobilization encompasses a range of critical actions. These include the strategic stockpiling of food, medicines, and essential materials, as well as implementing financial security measures to safeguard communities during the response and recovery phases. Furthermore, empowering local districts and municipalities for cross-sector decision-making can be achieved through legislation and capacity-building initiatives.

Evidence Based Preparedness and Recovery Planning

Participants highlighted that data-driven decision-making and continuous learning are fundamental to effective emergency preparedness response and recovery. The importance of an evidence-based methodology that is used to assess risk (hazard x vulnerabilities and consequences) was noted. As informed by a participant, risk assessments conducted through surveys (such as those carried out in Burkina Faso), can assist to inform the development of detailed, action-oriented preparedness plans. In addition, mitigatory action identified during the preparatory phase, can contribute to tailored responses suited to different types of emergencies was a view that was expressed. The importance of recovery, addressing infrastructure and the psychosocial impacts, was expressed. In recovery, participants recognized that promoting health may be essential to achieving the pre-event baseline for which to determine / achieve the recovery strategy and to inform priority for the establishment of disrupted services. Recovery further provides opportunity to strengthen resilience and for opportunities to deliver health improvement/promotion activities to be considered. Additionally, lessons identified from previous emergency’s (including observations from the COVID-19 pandemic), should be systematically incorporated into future emergency planning to strengthen preparedness.

Risk Communication

The importance of clear, timely messaging and the countering misinformation were highlighted as integral to the development and implementation of risk communication strategies. Risk communication plans should be developed, outlining how key messages are disseminated through various channels. The following examples were provided:

• Panel discussions on television
• Face-to-face outreach
• Leaflets
• Brochures
• Social media.

Attention was drawn to the management of misinformation in an emergency. Outcomes resulting from the sharing of mis information not only impacts those directly affected by an emergency, but also to population health. For example, reference was made to misinformation on the COVID19 vaccine having impact on wider health promotion strategies on vaccination and vaccine uptake. To address misinformation, participants discussed the value of behavioral science as a health promotion strategy to inform communication and engagement approaches before an emergency which could be effectively scaled-up in the response and recovery phases. In addition, a participant highlighted the requirement for dedicated risk communication and community engagement teams to be established, thereby ensuring effective communication across communities before, during, and after emergencies.

Health Education

Promoting healthy behaviors and implementing disease-specific Interventions were stated as being instrumental to reducing the impact of emergencies. Interventions must be considered as part of risk mitigation as well as in the planning, response and recovery phases of an emergency. Health education encourages practices that reduce risk and improve overall well-being. This was discussed as being achieved through disseminating information on maintaining healthy habits (to includes physical activity, balanced nutrition, mental health, and the prevention of family violence).

Targeted educational campaigns tailored to address specific health threats were discussed. The following examples were provided by participants:

• Promoting healthy behaviors in Burkina Faso through avoiding stagnant water to reduce the risk of dengue and improving water sanitation.
• Continuous health education initiatives, exemplified by programs like WASH Campaign (Water during COVID-19), have been associated with reduced disease transmission. Efforts to emphasize early detection of diseases and bolster community awareness further support this strategy.
• Santé publique France Campaign on Good Mental Health after COVID-19

Equity, Inclusion and Ethics

Equity, inclusion, and ethical considerations were stated as important factors in decision-making. Participants emphasized the need to identify and address vulnerabilities to meet the needs of diverse populations and reduce inequalities. The integration of ethical frameworks and social science insights was also noted as a guiding principle for policy and decision-making and to address the needs of communities. Several case studies were referenced, including access to COVID-19 vaccination in France and the incorporation of health equity boxes within Canadian emergency plans. There was also recognition by participants that maintaining a healthy society during peacetime is fundamental to minimizing the impacts of emergencies. This reinforces the need for tailored approaches that consider the requirements of different populations (with specific reference mad to indigenous populations) throughout all phases of emergency planning, response and recovery.

Conclusion of the session and next steps

Moderators: Dr. Tom Fowler (Deputy National Director of Health Protection and Screening Services, Public Health Wales), Daniel Rixon (Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response Manager, Public Health Wales)

In summary, the high-level findings of the workshop included the following:

• Through community engagement and partnership development that is supported by policy, tailored and actionable mitigation, plans and strategies can be developed.
• Clear and timely communication that addresses misinformation through diverse communication channels, as well as targeted interventions that promote healthy behaviors and disease-specific education can assist communities in reducing the public health impacts of emergencies
• Through integrating equity, inclusion, and ethical considerations, the needs of different populations can seek to be identified, considered and incorporated throughout all phases of emergency management continuum.

The workshop demonstrated among IANPHI members (in attendance at the workshop) the view that health promotion is an integral part of the emergency management continuum. Empowering communities, strengthening intersectoral partnerships, and prioritizing continuous education through risk communication and healthy living initiatives transforms emergency planning into a proactive and inclusive process. These approaches protect our populations during and emergency and foster resilience throughout the recovery phase.

Outcomes of the workshop shall further seek to develop and inform survey and semi-structured interviews to be conducted as part of the PHAC II project ‘Building Bridges to Resilience: Identifying International Good Practice Principles in Applying Health Promotion to Emergency Preparedness and Response’ and support the identification of grey literature for the study.