Many people view communication as an easy thing to do, but it is not the way it seems to be. On many occasions, what we assumed to say may not be what others hear. Obviously, people often give information in the way they think would best represent their point of view. It is encouraged that understanding the audiences’ perspectives, values and addressing their specific concerns is crucial in any meaningful communication. The priority of any person in communication should be information dissemination, and the information should be factual. 

In the context of the spread of COVID-19, risk communication includes the range of communication capacities required through the preparedness, response, and recovery phases of a serious threatening public health risk, which will help to encourage informed decision making and positive behavior change. While, crisis communication is also defined as exchanging information by and between related organizations, public or government authorities, the media, victims (affected communities and individuals) during and after a crisis.

So, risk and crisis communication is viewed primarily as disseminating information to the public about health risks and events, such as the outrage of COVID-19 and instructions on how to change behaviors to mitigate them. 

Today, risk and crisis communication are recognized as two-way and multi-directional communications and engagement with the affected community. It involves the use of both modern and local means of risk and crisis communication tools. The community has a significant role in protecting its members from any risks. It can only be done effectively when the members of that particular community are fully participating.

More specifically, risk and crisis communication can be implemented depending on how government authorities and related organizations respond to the crisis, the actual event, and how people view the event. All these have a significant influence on risk and crisis communication, and they need to be well observed during a crisis. 

The COVID-19 misleading information 

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused the public health communication system to be uncertain. News and information travel much faster than before. As a result, governments have to find strategies in handling misleading information. It would enable them to strategize with the populist show to contain circulating information in a less threatening manner.  

Otherwise, there will be much misleading and “false-cooked” information, which most of the time is purported by individuals with ulterior motives, hence downplaying the government. Social media has presented many strategic risks and posted many challenges during this combat of the COVID-19 pandemic. If social media is not treated seriously and strategically, the procedures and skills in risk and crisis communication on the COVID-19 pandemic may not be correctly followed, leading to anxiety and fear within the citizenry. 

To do away with this misleading information, people should try to utilize and listen to the government. Public health authorities recommended using various media platforms to disseminate information during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. It would certainly enable the people to build confidence in their government, hence overcoming the widespread virus.

Risk and crisis communication within the community concern

To ensure that the government agrees to include communities in taking action and response activities, inclusive (community-based) and direct approaches must be seriously taken. The inclusive community-based would enable the population to be abreast of first-hand information. In other, for the government to achieve a vision to control the spread of this COVID-19, they need to involve the communities in risk and crisis communication fully. Thus, community communication has to be revitalized and consider other areas for adjustments.

The COVID-19, as we may all know, can also be effectively controlled by individuals. It requires social distancing, frequent hand washing, face masks, coughing at your arm. So, for the people to be well convinced of the facts about the control measures, the government should set up local trained risk communication teams whose sole responsibilities are well defined. Suppose the risk and crisis communication teams are strategically stationed in every local community for sensitizing, educating, and updating the people on the control measures of this COVID-19 pandemic. In that case, it will go a long way in mitigating its spread. 

As community risk and crisis communication have to be a local base strategy, it cannot be well implemented if the local community is not fully involved in controlling the information. As a result of this, it is necessary to identify community influencers such as community leaders, religious leaders, health workers, traditional healers. It is also concerned with networks such as women’s groups, community health volunteers, youth associations, religious groups, unions that can help with community participation in risk and crisis communication.

Risk and crisis communication have to take a direct approach method of communication in these trying and devastating moments, hence the COVID-19 pandemic. It will help ensure that the information chain is short and timely as the population needs to be updated on the current situation and development.  

The community has a significant role in risk and crisis communication as the sole responsibility of every society is to protect people from any life-threatening epidemic. Community participation involves utilizing communication for disseminating, verifying, and engaging local volunteers with the local logistics, resources, and coordination plan. Thus, communities should be empowered with proper training and necessary information through effective community participation strategies. 

As most local communities have local forms of leadership, it will help them deal with any long-term effects of the disaster and prepare them for any future eventuality when they are fully involved in the risk communication. This is one of the effective forms of managing and preventing the occurrence of risks locally. When risk communication is localized, it helps create an avenue where uncertainties can be addressed and questions answered. It helps to improve the transparency and credibility of those implementing the risk management or communication, thus making the community members build much trust and confidence in them and the system put in place. It also helps the community members to have an overall understanding of risk-based terminologies and concepts of a particular epidemic outbreak. Finally, it further helps in the delivery and understanding of how risk management decisions are taken and their impacts on people’s lifestyles in a given society.