The WHO health promotion and education, in collaboration with other programmes of the Regional Office, have organized a regional consultation for risk communication focal points to take place from 18 to 20 September 2012, in Hammamet, Tunisia.

The key objectives of the consultation will be to:

• establish minimum requirements for risk communication in the preparedness, response and follow-up phases of public health emergencies
• strengthen countries' risk communication capacity to respond to public health emergencies that are sustainable, built on national health systems, policies and technical strategies
• provide Member States with access to critical scientific information and technical resources (human and material) related to risk communication necessary for effective response to public health emergencies
• ensure that Member States through WHO regional and country offices have access to necessary technical expertise in risk communication as a support to national and global alert and response systems to reduce negative public health consequences.