The recent rainy season in Ethiopia triggered multiple landslides, leading to the loss of lives and the evacuation of many people from various regions. In partnership with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The Ohio State University Global One Health initiative (GOHi) organized a Training of Trainers in Arba Minch, Ethiopia. The training focused on risk communication and community engagement for 17 healthcare professionals and media experts supporting the affected communities.
The primary objective was to provide frontline healthcare workers and media professionals with a strong understanding of strategic risk communication principles, enabling them to apply this knowledge in various emergency risk scenarios. Participants explored concepts and theories related to risk, risk perception and effective risk communication strategies during humanitarian crises. They also received training on community awareness, risk prevention and control strategy and reporting during emergencies.
The training concluded with a simulation exercise that allowed participants to apply risk communication theories and principles in developing and evaluating risk communication messages and programs. Trainees, in turn, train other frontline workers in the region.
The U.S. CDC-funded project "Advancing Ethiopia's Capacity for Laboratory, Workforce Development, Surveillance, and Emergency Management to Meet International Health Regulations Requirements" provided this support to enhance Ethiopia's capacity for effective emergency responses, strengthen health systems to detect threats, improve diagnostic capabilities and build a skilled healthcare workforce.