More than 2.5 years since the first COVID-19 cases were reported, the pandemic remains a global emergency and while many Member States are moving from acute to sustained management of the virus, people are still becoming seriously ill, dying or experiencing long-term health implications including long COVID.
The complexities of the pandemic response highlighted for nations worldwide the importance of continued strengthening of emergency preparedness, readiness and response capacities, particularly in the areas of risk communication and community engagement (RCCE). In an effort to support the government of Malaysia, the World Health Organization Representative Office to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore (WHO) continues to engage with non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and academia to provide evidence-based, people-centred health interventions, co-designed with the communities they aim to serve.
On 26 September 2022, representatives from WHO and a broad network of operational partners and stakeholders came together to establish and strengthen collaborations for community-centred initiatives. Attended by over 20 organizations, the hybrid meeting marked a country-wide effort to bring together partners from all sectors to share visions, thoughts, and ideas on how to continue to engage and empower communities for better health outcomes.
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In his opening remarks, Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative for Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, that people continue to be infected and impacted by the virus and so continued engagement is crucial. He noted that “We are in a better position than ever to end the pandemic, as we already have available tools and necessary resources. But these tools are only effective if they reach the population, especially the most vulnerable in the communities, and that is why we need to expand our partnerships even more broadly”.
Discussions focused on sharing and finding ideas to address various health challenges that still contribute to COVID-19 transmissions, including underlying health conditions, timely access to health services, getting all recommended vaccine doses, adopting healthy behaviours and ensuring that our joint efforts reach all pockets of society in Malaysia.
“How do we walk the last mile to end COVID-19 emergency? We must work to ensure vulnerable communities have access to vaccines and that they continue receiving the support needed to prevent COVID-19 transmission, severity, long-term impact, and death”, stated Djordje Novakovic, strategic and risk communication specialist at WHO.
In the meeting, WHO invited organizations to come up with innovative approaches that enable communities to take protective action and prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, while supporting the recovery of routine health services. Dr Sharuna Verghis from Health Equity Initiatives Malaysia said, “A nuanced understanding is crucial in the development and delivery of services, especially if we want to target hard-to-reach groups.”
Participants came to a joint understanding that tailored interventions informed by cultural and behavioural insights are essential to achieving real change. These factors greatly impact how people seek or prioritize care, perceive risks associated with COVID-19 and adhere to protective behaviours, including vaccine uptake. RCCE efforts, informed by behavioural science, should focus on localized approaches, capacities and solutions that build and maintain trust and support the adoption of life-saving interventions and practices.
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COVID-19 has exposed many weaknesses and strengths in the health systems, but it has also brought health into the mainstream as an important topic and consideration among the broader public in Malaysia. WHO invites partners and the government to continue to build on this momentum, address current health challenges and priorities in-country, and strengthen RCCE capacities beyond COVID-19 to ensure all communities are empowered to improve their health and well-being.
The meeting was organized with the financial aid provided by the European Union’s support for the pandemic response and preparedness in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia.