Case Study Asian Partnership on Emerging Infectious Diseases Research
ResearchSEA’s successful promotion and training ResearchSEA employed a media professional to conduct a media training workshop with APEIR researchers ahead of the APEIR Regional Conference. This boosted the confidence of the teams in conveying the key findings presented at the conference to a wider audience. An initial alert was sent to the media to inform them that the event was taking place and invite them to a press briefing at the end of the week. Drawing on what they had learned earlier in the week from the media training workshop, as well as from their individual coaching, the lead APEIR
Case Study
Background In 2006 the threat of avian influenza (H5N1) spurred a five-country collaboration to improve policy and surveillance of infectious diseases in Asia. In 2009 a new pandemic; H1N1 swine flu, threatened to kill millions around the world. Lessons learned from H5N1 were applied to the new emerging disease thanks, in part, to the collaboration, known as the Asian Partnership on Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (APEIR) , which is supported by the International Development Research Centre’s (IDRC) Ecohealth Program Initiative (www.idrc.ca). In January 2010, about 120 researchers from across Asia (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam) met in Kunming, China, at the 5th APEIR Regional Meeting, to discuss the results emerging from their work on emerging diseases. The programme covered policy-relevant research that addresses determinants and consequences of emerging infectious diseases. The stories ranged from confirmation of wild birds as likely transmission vectors of H5N1, to the impact of outbreaks and control measures on small scale and backyard poultry farmers in the region.
researchers for the five study teams were able to speak confidently to journalists at the press briefing as well as subsequent phone-in interviews. IDRC’s program managers and specialists were also interviewed during and after the Kunming meeting. ResearchSEA’s support also included compiling a list of media companies and journalists engaged in the topic of health and disease, and following up with interested journalists by phone and email.