RISK COMMUNICATION

Package for Communities

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

I Introduction 2

II Learning Needs Assessment

Summary of Knowledge Gaps 2

III Strategic Design

Goals and Objectives 3

Communication Strategy 3
Audience Segmentation 5

IV Implementation Strategy 5

V Annexes (Sample Products)

A. Posters Series
1. COVID-19 Basic Information 8
2. Proper use of face masks 12
3. Telemedicine 14
4. Taking care of patients at home 16
5. Precautions before entering home 18
B. Community Flipchart 19
C. Video Series 20

1
 I. INTRODUCTION
The sudden increase in the number of patients affected, quarantined, and dying due to COVID-19
heightened Filipinos’ feelings of fear, alarm, paranoia, and vulnerability. This was aggravated by the
general and enhanced community quarantine that were put in effect in Metro Manila, as well as in
other provinces, cities, and municipalities with increasing incidence of the disease.
People are constantly looking for information and updates on COVID-19. Authorities have responded
with a mass communication campaign to provide these information needs, utilizing traditional
media and emerging platforms like social and digital media.
This Risk Communication Package for Communities is developed to supplement such efforts and
to ensure that messages reach even the most remote areas through Community Health Workers
(CHW) or Barangay Health Workers (BHW) like you. This document has targeted messages and
communication materials, suggested channels, and activities to further reach audiences in local
communities.
II. LEARNING NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Summary of Knowledge Gaps
Initial results of the Learning Needs Assessment or baselining conducted with several stakeholders,
including health care workers from local communities, indicate that among patients and households
in communities, there is general demand for information on the following topics:
• Basic information on COVID-19, including information on transmission, signs and
symptoms, risk factors, high-risk groups, case definition and classification;
• COVID-19 response of the government, including patient management, testing protocols,
telemedicine, role of BHERT in the barangays and how to coordinate with them;
• Preventive practices to combat COVID-19 at home and in community, including practical
guide on handwashing, hygiene etiquette, wearing of face mask, physical distancing,
disinfection, home-based care; and
• Non-COVID information but similarly critical during the Enhanced Community
Quarantine, such as access to or continuity of other primary care services, mental
health, etc.
Other engagements and consultations with local leaders and partners confirm the gaps presented.
In addition, topics on managing dis/misinformation, nutrition, parenting, stigma and discrimination
have been regarded as urgent to be communicated, as well.
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III. STRATEGIC DESIGN
Goals
The Risk Communication Package (RCP) for Communities generally aims to provide relevant,
correct, and simplified information to members of local communities to ensure their safety and
health against COVID-19, and provide a site for meaningful engagement and immediate feedback.
Core Objectives
Audience-oriented objectives
After the implementation of the RCP, community members should be able to:
1. Explain the basics of COVID-19 including symptoms, transmission;
2. Demonstrate measures to prevent spread of the virus at home and in the community;
3. Understand the importance of cooperation, solidarity, and collective action in the success
of the preventive measures; and
4. Learn and recall important hotlines they can use in case of emergency.
Implementer-oriented Objectives
During the implementation of the RCP, implementers should be able to:
1. Educate community members on the basic information about COVID-19;
2. Educate community members on the preventive measures to prevent spread of COVID-19;
3. Motivate community members to observe prescribed practices to protect themselves
and other people; and
4. Maximize dissemination of communication mechanisms and important contact
information (i.e. emergency hotline, mental health hotline, etc.) to community members.
Communication Strategy *
Guided by the information and knowledge gaps initially analysed from the learning needs
assessment, the key messages presented in Table 1 were developed to correspond and address the
core objectives of this RCP. The table also presents the materials identified to best communicate
the key messages to their primary audience in the community. Table 2, in addition, enumerates the
topics and key messages highlighted in each of the communication materials.
 Table 1. Topics and key messages, and communication materials for each core objective
Core Objective
1. Educate community
members of the basic
information about
COVID-19;
2. Educate community
members of the measures
to prevent spread of
COVID-19;
3. Motivate community
members to observe
prescribed practices to
protect themselves and
other people; and
4. Maximize dissemination of
communication lines and
other important contact
information to community
members.
* Development of communication strategy based on learning needs assessment/baselining conducted
with several stakeholders and health care workers from local communities
Table 2. Topics and key messages for each communication material
RCP Product
Poster Series
(can be reprinted as flyers/
pamphlets for distribution)
COVID-19 basic information, when and how to contact
Key Message RCP Product
BHERT or BHW, telemedicine, testing, guidelines when
Community Flipchart
caring for COVID-19 patients at home, preventive practices,
What is COVID-19? Flipchart/
managing misinformation, stigma and related discriminated
How is the virus transmitted? Radio Spot and
What are the symptoms? Drama Series/
Who is at risk? Video Series How the virus spreads, and how to prevent transmission
How do I properly care for COVID-19 Flipchart/ Video Series
patients at home? Poster Series/ Radio Seven steps to fight the spread of COVID-19 at home
How do I properly practice physical Spot and Drama
distancing, hygiene (wash hands), Series/
How to prevent transmission of virus
wear masks, etc.? Video Series
How do I practice physical distancing? Staying at home, what to do if going outside or coming
Flipchart/ home
How do I overcome stigma and
Poster Series/ Radio Radio Spot and
prevent discrimination?
Spot and Drama Drama Series
Where should I get correct What to do if symptoms of COVID-19 occur
Series
information?
Mental health during COVID-19 crisis
How do I contact the barangay for
Flipchart/
concerns, emergencies? No to fake news
Poster Series
How does telemedicine work?
Audience Segmentation
This RCP is developed to supplement national government efforts on risk communication, and
ensure that messages reach even the most remote areas in local communities. Guided by the
learning needs assessment, presented in Table 3 are the primary and/or secondary audiences for
each of the communication materials included in the RCP package.
Topics and Key Messages
COVID-19 basic information (transmission, symptoms, high-
Table 3. Primary and secondary audience for each communication material
risk groups, preventive practices)
RCP Product Primary Audience
Proper way to put on, wear, and dispose of used face masks
Poster Series General community
Telemedicine (importance of telemedicine, how it works,
Flipchart General community
when to use telemedicine, specific local telemedicine
mechanisms)
Video Series General community
Taking care of COVID-19 patients at home
Radio Spot and Drama Series General community
Precautions before entering your home
4 5
 a. Understand the
importance of
IV. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY telemedicine; Post in RHUs,
b. Understand how community
The Table 4 below provides a summary of the implementation strategy suggested for the roll out of Poster Series telemedicine works; markets,
General
materials included in this RCP for communities. 3 (Telemedi- plaza, courts, HEPO/LGU
c. Determine when to use community
cine) other strategic
telemedicine; and locations in the
The implementers for each of the communication material are identified. Presented also in the
table are the primary audience of each material, and some suggested activity/ies or modes of d. Determine specific Brgy
dissemination which the implementers may consider during rollout. These details should provide ttelemedicine hotlines, etc.
guidance for implementers in organizing or planning out more specific details of implementation in the community.
at the local level.
a. Identify important Post in RHUs,
Finally, the table also enumerates the learning objectives for each of the communication material. Poster Series reminders if living with a community
This should provide the basis for implementers in terms of evaluating the success or effectiveness 4 (Taking care COVID-19 patient at home; markets,
General
of the risk communication activities. of COVID-19 plaza, courts, HEPO/LGU
community
patients at b. Demonstrate how to other strategic
home) properly and safely take locations in the
care of patients at home. Brgy
Table 4. Summary matrix of learning objectives, target audience, intended activity, and Post in RHUs,
implementer for each communication material Poster Series
a. Identify practices to community
5
observe before entering markets,
Primary (Precautions General
RCP Product Learning Objectives Activity Implementer your home to prevent plaza, courts, HEPO/LGU
Audience before community
transmission in the other strategic
entering your
household locations in the
a. Understand how the virus home)
Brgy
is spread;
a. Understand the basics of
b. Enumerate common Post in RHUs, COVID-19;
symptoms; community Home Visit or
Poster Series markets, b. Demonstrate preventive
General Group
1 (COVID-19 c. Identify vulnerable groups; plaza, courts, HEPO/LGU Community practices at home and in General CHW or BHW
community Discussion
Basic Info) other strategic Flipchart community; community in PPE
with physical
d. Demonstrate how to locations in the c. Learn and recall contact distancing
protect self; and Brgy information of the
barangay health workers.
e. Demonstrate what to do if
experiencing symptoms. Play in local
a. Understand how the virus health centers,
a. Determine which type of Video 1 is transmitted; and barangay
General
mask to use; Post in RHUs, (How the office, other HEPO/LGU
community
community virus spreads) b. Demonstrate measures to strategic
Poster Series b. Demonstrate how to markets, prevent transmission. locations in
General barangay
2 (Wearing properly wear mask; and plaza, courts, HEPO/LGU
community
face mask) other strategic Play in local
c. Demonstrate how to locations in the Video 2 health centers,
properly dispose of used Brgy (7 Steps a. Demonstrate the seven (7) barangay
mask; General
to Fight basic measures to fight the office, other HEPO/LGU
community
COVID19) spread of COVID-19. strategic
locations in
barangay

6 7
 a. Understand how the virus
Radio Spot
is spread at home and in Broadcast in
V. ANNEXES
and Drama 1
the community; and General Community
(Transmis- HEPO/LGU
community Radio/
sion) Annex 1. Poster Series
b. Demonstrate how to Mobile patrols
prevent transmission. Annex 1.1 Poster on COVID-19 Basic Information

a. Motivate to stay home;

b. Demonstrate to do, wear, Broadcast in

Radio Spot
and bring if need to go out General Community
and Drama 2 HEPO/LGU
for essential activity; community Radio/
(Stay home)
Mobile patrols
c. What to do when coming
home.

a. Enumerate the symptoms

of COVID-19;
Radio Spot b. Determine when to seek Broadcast in
and Drama 3 medical attention; and General Community
HEPO/LGU
(Signs and community Radio/
Symptoms) c. Identify important Mobile patrols
hotlines/ contact
information in case of
emergencies.

a. Motivate to maintain
Radio Spot positive attitude at home
and in community; and Broadcast in
and Drama 4
General Community
(Mental HEPO/LGU
community Radio/
Health) b. Demonstrate ways to Mobile patrols
overcome stress, anxiety
during the COVID-19 crisis

a. Understand the negative

implications of fake news
during COVID-19 crisis;
Radio Spot Broadcast in
and Drama 5 Community
b. Demonstrate how to verify General
(No to Fake Radio/ HEPO/LGU
information; and community
News) Mobile patrols

c. Identify which sources to

get correct information
from

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Annex 1.2 Poster on Proper Wearing of Face Masks

12 13
 Annex 1.3 Poster on Telemedicine

14 15
 Annex 1.4 Poster on How to Take Care of COVID-19 Patients at Home

16 17
 Annex 1.5 Poster on Precautions Before Entering Your Home

18 19
 Annex 3. Thumbnail of Video Series

Annex C.1 Video on “How the Virus Spreads” in English, Tagalog, and Cebuano

Annex 2. Front Cover of Community Flipchart on COVID-19

20 21
Annex C.2 Video on “7 Steps to Fight COVID-19” in English, Tagalog, and Cebuano

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