The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 11 years ago
Last updated 2 years ago
Read so far

Global health communication is an urgent imperative

0 comments

Author: Syed T S Hassan, November 14 2014 - The present, omnipresent, pervasive, and imminent global epidemic of ebola points definitively to the need for a global understanding in terms of urgent communication protocols to quickly link every country of the world. We can no longer relegate outbreak containment and management only to certain areas of the globe. Diseases, especially the infectious and contagious, need no visa to start an inoculation colony in any country! With air travel criss-crossing the globe, in increasing frequency and intensity, the world is a global village now. 

Countries and nations must and should initiate and establish "instant" communication "hotlines" between their health authorities, especially the monitoring-surveillance and disaster-outbreak sections. Those countries that are unable or too poor to establish such a setup should be able to seek urgent help and assistance from their "big" brothers. What do we have global entities such as UN [the United Nations] and WHO [the World Health Organization] for?

I really feel we really need a "global health intelligence system", perhaps as important as "the global crime intelligence system network- INTERPOL". Perhaps WHO can take the lead role here.

The unseen and invisible potent pathogens e.g. ebola, are as important, if not more important than the visible human criminals.

Unless such communication between ALL countries is established now, we will be witnessing more calamities, mortalities, exigencies, and emergencies spreading beyond management and containment. When will humanity learn that we are one big family on this planet!

Once a truly global understanding and communication exist between nations, multiferous benefits will result...not just for health and well-being!

God Bless.


Syed T S Hassan

Malaysia

Image credit: Global Action Platform