Public Health Communications for Hurricane Maria Response Maria Levis MPH, MPA, PCMH-CCE CEO of Impactivo www.nwcphp.org/hot-topics
IMPACTIVO
Questions for the Viewer? Have you experienced a disaster that included a power outage for at least: A. One week? B. One month? C. Longer?
LANDFALL
In September 2017, Puerto Rico was hit by two Category 5 hurricanes. Hurricane Irma Spared the main island a direct hit Damaged power lines throughout Many without electricity Hurricane Maria Communities not fully recovered Directly hit all of Puerto Rico Up to 155 mph force winds Significant devastation
Situation in Puerto Rico Post- Hurricane Maria 100% of the Island without power More than 75% without telecommunications 60% without any source of water All maritime routes blocked off by wreckage Airport s radars severely damaged Severe shortages of gas, diesel, water, food, medications and general provisions
Public Health in Puerto Rico Post- Hurricane Maria Damage to public health operations and health care services infrastructure Direct (physical/structural) Indirect (operational/supply chain) Puerto Rico Department of Health (PR-DOH) facilities severely damaged CDC-issued HAN advisory for infectious diseases: leptospirosis, dengue, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, vibriosis, and influenza Dire public health information needs
Questions for the Viewer? Does your organization s disaster plan include resources to support employee planning for family needs in case of a community disaster? A. Yes, our disaster plan supports employee families. (Please explain in chat if you are willing to do so.) B. No, our disaster plan only focuses on our organization and its immediate situation. C. I don t know. D. Our organization doesn t have a disaster plan.
The Problem With Online Resources Difficult to access Difficult to understand Not pertinent Too long and/or English only
RESPONSE
Training and Information Requested by the Puerto Rico Department of Health: Training and materials for public consumption on how to maintain health under the current conditions Training for a volunteer resource center (volunteers and in-country public health and sanitation workers)
Training and Information Requested by the Puerto Rico Department of Health: Priority topics included: Water safety Food safety/spoiled food Scabies Mental health/dealing with trauma Remediation of mold Care for chronic conditions under the current conditions (focus on asthma, diabetes, dialysis) Waste/garbage disposal and management Volunteer management Surveillance
Impactivo s Resources 1 2 3 Trusted partnership with the Puerto Rico health department Puerto Rico Network of local partners from diverse sectors meeting at the Emergency Operations Center Public Health Learning Network of ten university-based Public Health Training Centers, an existing, knowledgeable and responsive team
Activating a National Network
Public Health Training Center Contribution Created cloud-based folders to share most urgent public health needs Quickly identified high quality information to be deployed in micro-trainings and one-page materials. Identified and deconstructed online resources using instructional design expertise Requested pro-bono Spanish translation support from the University of Miami Asked network to ask experts to fill in gaps where online resources did not exist (e.g., cistern cleaning and addressing dialysis without electricity)
Impactivo s Contribution Presented and communicated highest priority needs identified by PR DOH to Region 2 PHTC Provided cultural adaptation of content Structured local branding strategy to get maximum support Identified local resources to print campaign Established distribution network to reach over 200,000 people
CAMPAIGN
Salúdame Saludable: Greet Me With Health
Printed Materials: Public Safety Handout MORE THAN 200,000 print copies distributed and placed in public spaces by October 4th, two weeks after storm fall.
Progress of the Campaign: Distribution and Reach Newspaper-based campaign generated printed copies Large local organizations printed and shared Pharma/health suppliers incorporated it into the supply chain to hospitals and moved the information with their goods Moved to sustainability on social media, internet, and news media
Evolution of the Campaign: Subject Matter
Evolution of the Campaign: Subject Matter
Evolution of the Campaign: Subject Matter
Evolution of the Campaign: Subject Matter
Keys to Success: Partnerships Puerto Rico Department of Health Impactivo, LLC. Region 2 Public Health Training Center Region 1 Public Health Training Center Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Rutgers University School of Public Health University of the Virgin Islands New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene CDC Foundation Agenda Ciudadana Josette y sus Truquitos Caseros PR Human Resources Association/SHRM Clever Media Puerto Rico Primary Care Association Asociación de Salud Primaria de Puerto Rico (representing 20 Federally Qualified Health Centers) PR Medical Directors Academy Academia de Directores Médicos de Puerto Rico PR Insurance Association/Acodese PR Hospital Association United Ways of Puerto Rico/Fondos Unidos de Puerto Rico Universidad Carlos Albizu Projecto Enlace del Caño Martin Peña AbbVie Sanofi Best Option Wovenware Cesmi Yale University Insignia Senior Living (Elderly Home) PR Chapter Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Ciencias PR (Groups PR Scientists) Foundation for Puerto Rico Cooperativa de Seguros Multiples GFR Media Asociacion de Ejecutivos de Cooperativas (Groups PR Coops) Dotdot
Lines of Communication: Media Contacts GFR Media Diálogo Periódico La Cordillera (Cidra) Primerahora.com El Vocero El Oriental (Humacao) y El Regional El Nuevo Periódico de Caguas Periódico Visión Periódico Todo Carollina Periódico El Sol PeriódicoPresencia (Carolina) Periódico La Perla (Ponce) Periódico La Esquina Periódico El Todo Bayamón Periódico El Expresso (Manatí) Sistema TV Telemundo Telemundo WIPR Notiuno Wapa TV
Online Campaign Resource Site
Online Campaign Resource Site
9 MONTHS LATER
Key Lessons Learned 1 2 3 Working with a trusted local partner advances the effort s capacity to quickly identify needs, tailor to the local context and establish a network to distribute materials for greater spread. Having a team of experts offsite to support the local team in addressing the needs identified, providing high quality content, formatting content in accordance with local capacity to distribute and coordinating with National support entities was paramount. Vertical and horizontal communication and coordination are of utmost importance and need to be strengthened.
How You Can Help: Advocate For Medicaid Parity Most of the states of the Union receive an allocation of 80 percent of their cost. [ ] Without ObamaCare, Puerto Rico is set to receive less than the current 55 percent grant. [ ] If we were a state, the American citizens living in Puerto Rico would be slated to receive 83 percent of all Medicaid cost. We need parity and we need it now. Without parity the people will suffer, there s simply no other way to put it. Carlos Méndez Núñez, House Speaker, Puerto Rico House of Representatives January 23, 2017 Source: http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/315702-the-urge-for-parity-in-medicaid-funds
Questions?
What is Impactivo? Impactivo is a social impact consulting firm that works with leaders to make health and wellbeing accessible to communities. Impactivo Contact Information: PMB 140 1357 Ashford Avenue San Juan, PR 00907 (787) 993-1508 (t) Email: maria.levis@impactivo.com Web: www.impactivo.com https://www.facebook.com/impactivo/ Thanks!