One Health Risk Communication Training for Chiefdom-Level One Health Structures

"Community engagement is key to successfully controlling outbreaks."



With zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 reminding us of the increasing interdependence of our world, the One Health approach facilitates multisector and transdisciplinary collaboration to achieve optimal health outcomes for people, animals, plants, and the shared environment. This training package covers a 3-day, interactive training in One Health risk communication and community engagement (RCCE). It was designed for chiefdom-level One Health representatives and stakeholders within the health, animal, or environment sector, as well as key chiefdom-level authorities and influencers. Much of the training content is specific to Sierra Leone but could be adapted to other contexts.



Participants in the 3-day training are expected to gain experience in conducting the community-led action (CLA) method and to learn how to collaborate to raise awareness of risks and prevention of priority zoonotic diseases (PZDs), with the ultimate aim of contributing to:

• improving the public's uptake of protective health behaviours for PZDs, including reporting instances of high risk or disease outbreak and contributing to early detection of potential emergencies;
• increasing efficiency and minimising contradictory or false information during response to a public health emergency and in overall awareness of PZD prevention; and
• providing timely and accurate health advice that addresses the public's concerns during public health emergencies.

The training is designed to be participatory and interactive. It emphasises adult learning methods that require participation through small and large group discussion, brainstorming and reflection, role-play, and practice.



The training package is designed to be "field friendly" in that no slides are required. Instead, this training is broken into the following documents:

1. Facilitator Guide [PDF, 69 pages] - Table of contents:
   • About this Training Package
   • Purpose and Objectives
   • Intended Audience
   • Materials Needed for Facilitation
   • Facilitation Reminders
   • Session 1.1: Welcome and Introductions
   • Session 1.2: Workshop Purpose, Objectives, Ground Rules, and Pre-Test
   • Session 2.1: Setting The Foundations: Zoonotic Disease and the One Health Approach
   • Session 2.2: Core One Health Institution: Agriculture
   • Session 2.3: Core One Health Institution: Health
   • Session 2.4: Core One Health Institution: Environment
   • Session 2.5: One Health Coordination and Collaboration
   • Session 3.1: Priority Zoonotic Diseases - introduction
   • Session 3.2: Priority Zoonotic Diseases: Your Turn!
   • Session 4.1: Review of Day 1 and Introduction to Day 2
   • Session 4.2: Introduction to RCCE and SBC [social and behaviour change]
   • Session 4.3: Monitoring and Evaluating RCCE Activities
   • Session 5.1: Rumor Management
   • Session 5.2: 117 Call Center
   • Session 6.1: Review of Day 2 and Introduction to Day 3
   • Session 6.2: Community-led Action
   • Session 6.3: Post-Test, Workshop Evaluation, and Closing
   • Facilitator Guide Appendix
   • Pre-Test/Post-Test Questionnaire
   • Rumor management - TV and radio
   • Rumor management - CHWs [community health workers]
   • Rumor management - rumor log
   • Rumor management - associations and other organizations
   • Rumor management - health partners
   • Rumor management - 117
   • Rumor management - WhatsApp
   • 117 Process Flow
   • One Health RCCE Flowchart
2. Chiefdom Manual [PDF, 113 pages] - This manual includes compiled World Health Organization (WHO) factsheets and approved messages for various zoonotic diseases, as well as rumour scenarios and rumour management tools, flowcharts, templates, and so on.
3. Community-Led Action (CLA): A Field Manual for CHWs/OH RCCE Actors Responding to the Zoonotic Disease Outbreak Threat in Sierra Leone [PDF, 39 pages] - This field manual was developed by the international humanitarian response agency GOAL for community health workers (CHWs)/community mobilisers (CMs) implementing the community-led action (CLA) approach to reduce the spread of zoonotic disease and to mitigate the secondary impacts of these outbreaks (across health, social wellbeing, and protection) in their communities. It is intended as a guide for CMs, supporting them to implement CLA's 5 steps. It provides CMs/CHWs with participatory learning and action (PLA) tools and ideas for empowering communities to do their own analysis of the situation and take their own action to stay safe and healthy. CMs/CHWs are encouraged to consider their local context when implementing the CLA approach - for example the local epidemiological situation and threats, spread, traditional leadership, community structures, and community capabilities and resources - and to adapt and tailor implementation accordingly.
4. Appendix Materials [PDF, 11 pages] - These materials include: pre-test, post-test, a 3-day training agenda, and workshop evaluation. These materials should be given to participants as needed, rather than in one packet.
5. Photo Attachments [PDF, 25 pages] - These photos should not be given to participants but used as need throughout the sessions.