Forty-five participants from the Ministry of Health, Primary Healthcare Centres, Ministry of Interior, National Communications Center and Government Hospitals took part in the capacity-building workshop in Manama, Bahrain. Photo credit: WHO/WHO Bahrain18 December 2023, Manama, Bahrain – WHO ran a 3-day Multidisciplinary Health Communications and Community Engagement Capacity-Building Workshop in Manama, Bahrain, on 3–5 December 2023, under the direction of the Ministry of Health.

The training aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge and practical skills, enabling them to respond to advances in health communications, behavioural insights, and draw lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for emergency and risk communications.

The multidisciplinary approach introduced various methodologies to plan and implement effective communication and engagement strategies targeting diverse audiences. These audiences included different age groups within communities, media professionals, policy-makers, and other stakeholders through the advocacy process, with the goal of fostering healthy behaviour and improving health and well-being.

Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative in Bahrain, and H. E. Dr Samya Ali Bahram, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health, present their opening remarks at the workshop. Photo credit: WHO/WHO BahrainOpening the workshop were Her Excellency Dr Samya Ali Bahram, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health, Ministry of Health, and Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative in Bahrain.

In her opening remarks, Dr Atatrah highlighted: “The communication process has grown increasingly intricate due to the swift expansion of the global information system. Individuals encounter a substantial volume of information from diverse sources on a daily basis, contributing to what is recognized as an infodemic. In response, health authorities must elevate their efforts to engage and communicate effectively.”

“Crafting appropriate communication and messaging requires an approach tailored to the unique characteristics of the audience to encourage healthy behaviour,” she added. “Through this, the overarching goal of achieving health and well-being for all can be realized.”

Ms Mona Yassin, Communication Officer, gives an overview of the key principles of Communication for Health (C4H). Photo credit: WHO/WHO BahrainA first of its kind, the multidisciplinary workshop was a unique collaboration between departments of the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and WHO headquarters. These included the Communications, Resource Mobilization and Partnerships; Emergency Communications; Healthier Populations/Health Promotion; and Behavioural Insights teams. Together, they set out a comprehensive and integrated approach that can be used to tackle various challenges in public health communication.

Forty-five personnel from the Ministry of Health, Primary Healthcare Centres, Ministry of Interior, National Communications Center and Government Hospitals took part in the workshop. Participants included experts in media and public relations, public health, risk communication and community engagement, and health promotion and education.

The workshop aimed to build capacities in formulating communication strategies during crises and public health emergencies. Various methods of monitoring communication and engagement-based activities were also discussed, as was the importance of adjusting strategies or activities in response to the results.

Understanding the changing landscape of communications is vital to be able to foster healthy behaviours and improve health and well-being to achieve Health for All by All.