Africa Archives - COVID-19 Communication Network

Guidelines for Dialogue: Talking to the General Public About COVID-19

This guide presents a series of recommendations aimed at facilitating the dialogue between health personnel in charge of COVID-19 vaccination and information sessions and the general public. Listening to their concerns and informing them with clarity and simplicity, in a respectful and empathetic atmosphere, are undoubtedly the keys to a dialogue that will allow to continue promoting vaccination among the population.

Source: Guidelines for Dialogue: Talking to the General Public About COVID-19

Protecting older adults in Indonesia through COVID-19 vaccination

February 22, 2023/in News and Updates EPIC, FHI 360 Africa English Older Adults, Vaccines SBC Professionals/by wpengine

The Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project rolled out several approaches to increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage among older adults in DKI Jakarta, West Java, Banten Province, Central Java, and the Special Region of Yogyakarta.

Source: Protecting older adults in Indonesia through COVID-19 vaccination

Young Adults’ Responses to an African and US-Based COVID-19 Edutainment Miniseries: Real-Time Qualitative Analysis of Online Social Media Engagement

January 26, 2023/in Reports and Studies JMIR Publications Africa, Global English Entertainment Education, Risk Communication and Messaging, Rumors and Misinformation, Vaccines Researchers, SBC Professionals/by Shane Harper

MTV Staying Alive Foundation created the educational entertainment miniseries MTV Shuga: Alone Together. In 70 short episodes released daily on YouTube, Alone Together aimed to disseminate timely and accurate information to increase young people’s knowledge, motivation, and actions to prevent COVID-19. We sought to identify Alone Together viewer’s perspectives on the global COVID-19 pandemic and national lockdowns by examining the words, conversations, experiences, and emotions expressed on social media in response to the Alone Together episodes. We also assessed how viewers used the series and its online community as a source of support during the global pandemic.

Source: Young Adults’ Responses to an African and US-Based COVID-19 Edutainment Miniseries: Real-Time Qualitative Analysis of Online Social Media Engagement

COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Social Media Toolkit

April 1, 2022/in Fact Sheet, Presentation, Social Media, Technical Briefs, Toolkit CORE Group Africa, Global English, Kiswahili, Luganda, Pidgin Rumors and Misinformation, Vaccines General Public, Health Workers and Facilities, Journalists, Policy Makers, Response Organizations, SBC Professionals/by wpengine

After the rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccines and subsequent rollout, there has been an infodemic of misinformation circulating about COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy, reducing public trust in getting vaccinated. This social media toolkit aims to support Ministry of Health officials, frontline health workers, community leaders and members, and patient advocacy groups with key messages to help address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in their communities.

This toolkit is also available in Swahili, Luganda, and Nigerian Pidgin English.

Source: COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Social Media Toolkit

SocialNet: Social and behavioural insights COVID-19 data collection tool for Africa

December 28, 2021/in Web Resources World Health Organization Africa, Global English COVID-19 Response, Engagement, Research/Monitoring and Evaluation, Risk Communication and Messaging Researchers, Response Organizations/by Shane Harper

Timely data and insights into people’s changing knowledge, attitudes and behaviors can ensure that the response to COVID-19 is tailored and adapted to the needs of the population. This course introduces a data collection tool that can help countries or regions capture and use this type of data in their response to the pandemic.

Source: SocialNet: Social and behavioural insights COVID-19 data collection tool for Africa

Charlize Theron takes on new role of fighting COVID vaccine hesitancy and inequality

October 18, 2021/in SBC Materials, Video CBS Morning News Africa English Risk Communication and Messaging, Vaccines General Public/by Shane Harper

Charlize Theron’s organization, “The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project”, is stepping up to help fight vaccine misinformation and inequality that is found in poorer countries like South Africa.

The program has been fighting to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among South Africa’s adolescent population since 2007. She said her organization has been speaking to South African residents who have been hesitant to get the shot because of vaccine misinformation.

Source: Charlize Theron takes on new role of fighting COVID vaccine hesitancy and inequality

COVID-19 Vaccine Perceptions: A 15 Country Study

May 25, 2021/in Reports and Studies African Union Africa English Vaccines Multiple, Policy Makers/by Shane Harper

The aim of this study is to investigate public knowledge and perceptions of both the COVID-19 pandemic itself and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among adults (aged 18 years and above) in 15 African countries.

This study will help identify knowledge gaps, beliefs and attitudes that can help inform Africa CDC as well as other immunization stakeholders in their strategies for supporting the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines in the continent.

The survey of public opinion was conducted in 15 countries across Africa between August and December 2020.

Source: COVID-19 Vaccine Perceptions: A 15 Country Study

COVID-19 in Africa: The Nuances of Social Distancing and Handwashing

March 29, 2021/in News and Updates Medical Journal of Zambia Africa English Handwashing, Prevention, Social/Physical Distancing Response Organizations, SBC Professionals/by Shane Harper

The increasing spread of COVID-19 has necessitated enforcement of frequent hand washing, social distancing and lockdown measures as a recommended global strategy to curb community-based spread of the disease. However, pre-existing conditions in Africa impede capacity to observe hand hygiene, social distancing and lockdown.

Compliance with social distancing and handwashing is challenging in Africa due to poor urban planning in densely populated communities, food insecurity, water shortages, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, unemployment and lack of funding. The aim of this article is to unveil current challenges with social distancing and handwashing in Africa and propose innovative solutions to prevent community-based COVID-19 transmission.

Source: COVID-19 in Africa: The Nuances of Social Distancing and Handwashing

Coronavirus Message for Communities

August 31, 2020/in Video Picturing Health Africa English Prevention, Risk Communication and Messaging, Symptoms Communities, General Public/by Shane Harper

This short video can be used in many communities. It answers the questions: How does coronavirus (COVID-19) spread? What are the symptoms? Who is at risk? How can you protect yourself and your family?

Source: Coronavirus Message for Communities

Ajustement à bases factuelles des mesures de santé publique et des mesures sociales

July 7, 2020/in Fact Sheet World Health Organization Africa Français COVID-19 Response, Prevention, Risk Communication and Messaging Policy Makers, Response Organizations/by Shane Harper

Un rapport de lignes directrices provisoires pour les États membres de la région africaine de l’OMS concernant la santé publique et les mesures sociales pour prévenir la propagation des COVID-19.

Source: Ajustement à bases factuelles des mesures de santé publique et des mesures sociales

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