Paper details
| Paper authors | Rocio Lopez Inigo, Alejandro Posada, Nancy Wong |
| In panel on | Health Systems Resilience in response to mass displacement, conflict, and disasters |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
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Abstract
The negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened risks increasing the likelihood for future health emergencies have triggered a collective re-evaluation of health emergency preparedness from different angles. However, there is not much literature on how local information ecosystem (IE) actors can be better prepared for health emergencies, considering that a strengthened and resilient information ecosystem plays a core role in times of crisis providing relevant, timely and accurate information that responds to communities’ local information needs. Ultimately contributing to protect people affected by crises from the negative impacts of misinformation.
This paper presentation will share results from a recent study on the existing challenges faced by information ecosystem actors in Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali and South Sudan amidst health emergencies. The study is based in over 40 interviews conducted in May 2023 with Health System Stakeholders, Humanitarian and Health Organizations, Local Media, CSOs and Community Leaders. We will share results on the identified opportunities to reinforce structures, systems and capacity of these actors as a means to advocate for their integration and consideration in wider preparedness frameworks in humanitarian contexts.
This research is part of Rooted in Trust, a global pandemic information response that aimed at responding to the unprecedented spread of health misinformation during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
