www.nwcphp.org/hot-topics

Public Health Communications for Hurricane Maria Response

Maria LevisMPH, MPA, PCMH-CCECEO of Impactivo

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

Hurricane Maria• Communities not fully

recovered• Directly hit all of Puerto Rico • Up to 155 mph force winds • Significant devastation

• Spared the main island a direct hit

• Damaged power lines throughout

• Many without electricity

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

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

Public Health in Puerto Rico Post-Hurricane Maria

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

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)

Requested by the Puerto Rico Department of Health:

Training and Information

Priority topics included:

Requested by the Puerto Rico Department of Health:

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

Trusted partnership with the Puerto Rico health department

Puerto Rico Network of local partnersfrom diverse sectors meeting at the Emergency Operations Center

Public Health Learning Network of ten university-based Public Health Training Centers, an existing, knowledgeable andresponsive team

1

2

3

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

200,000print 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 DirectoresMédicos 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 SegurosMultiples

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 VoceroEl Oriental (Humacao) y El Regional

El Nuevo Periódico de CaguasPeriódico Visión

Periódico Todo CarollinaPeriódico El Sol

PeriódicoPresencia (Carolina)Periódico La Perla (Ponce)

Periódico La EsquinaPeriódico El Todo Bayamón

Periódico El Expresso (Manatí)

Sistema TVTelemundoTelemundo

WIPRNotiunoWapa TV

Online Campaign Resource Site

Online Campaign Resource Site

9 MONTHS LATER

Key Lessons Learned

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.

1Having 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.

2

Vertical and horizontal communication and

coordination are of utmost importance and need to be

strengthened.

3

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 RepresentativesJanuary 23, 2017

Source: http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/315702-the-urge-for-parity-in-medicaid-funds

Questions?

Thanks!

PMB 1401357 Ashford AvenueSan Juan, PR 00907(787) 993-1508 (t)Email: maria.levis@impactivo.comWeb: www.impactivo.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Impactivo/

Impactivo Contact Information:

What is Impactivo?Impactivo is a social impact consulting firm that works with leaders to make health and wellbeing accessible to communities.