Navigating Global Epidemics

In an era where the global landscape grapples with the persistent threat of epidemics and public health crises, the significance of adept preparedness and communication strategies cannot be overstated. Against this backdrop, the 2024 Behavioral Communications Strategies for Global Epidemics (BCSE) Programme emerged as a beacon of transformative learning, giving participants of the 2024 cohort an opportunity to learn from various industry players.

One of the guest speakers featured in the programme was Major Venant Ndighila, the Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager at Kenya Red Cross. Major Ndighila’s expertise, rooted in years of hands-on experience, contributed a practical dimension to the learning experience for programme participants.

During the Session, Major Ndighila shared valuable insights into the organization’s approach to disaster and emergency preparedness, particularly focusing on epidemics. He further shed light on the intricacies of managing crises, emphasizing the importance of a well-prepared and responsive approach. The session covered aspects such as risk assessment, coordination mechanisms, and the deployment of resources in times of epidemics.

Industry guest speaker sessions like Major Ndighila’s aim to enhance the overall learning experience by providing practical insights, fostering networking opportunities, offering diverse perspectives, and bridging the gap between theory and real-world applications.

The BCSE Programme, offered by Strathmore University Business School in partnership with Unicef and the New York University School of Global Public Health, focuses on the challenges currently facing the East and Southern Africa region, including, but not limited to those related to the current cholera and ebola outbreaks, drought, and the COVID-19. Ultimately, the Programme aims to co-create science-driven, human rights-focused, and country-specific strategies that are grounded in empirical evidence and the collective experience in the room while building Social and Behavior Change (SBC) and related competencies in participants.

Learn  more about this Programme here >> https://sbs.strathmore.edu/behavioral-communication-strategies-for-epidemics-programme/

Article de Juliet Hinga