The Humanitarian Pandemic Preparedness (H2P) Initiative and its many partners have developed ready-to-use training curricula for district- and community-level leaders, and community volunteers and workers in order to minimize morbidity and mortality in the event of an influenza pandemic. The time to put these tools into action is now.
The curriculum has separate tracks for district/community leaders and for first responders (community volunteers and workers) at the community level.
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Track: District and Community Leaders (Download complete file: 3,300 KB)
(Download individuals sessions here)
1. Introduction and User Guide
2. What is Pandemic Influenza?
3. Preventive Messages
4. Action Local Leaders can Take to Fight Pandemic Influenza
Track: Community Volunteers and Workers (Download complete file: 5,503 KB)
(Download individuals sessions here)
1. Introduction and User Guide
2. What is Pandemic Influenza?
3. Preventive Messages
4. Infection Control for Community Health Responders
5. Home-Based Care
Below is a description of each session.
Track for District and Community Leaders
Introduction & User Guide
Describes the Overall H2P training package (for both tracks)
What is Pandemic Influenza?
This one-hour session engages participants in presentations, discussions, and exercises on the basic epidemiology and history of influenza pandemics. Appropriate for all audiences, it can be used with sub-national and community leaders and community-level staff and volunteers at any time.
Teaching Preventive Messages About Flu
This session should follow What is Pandemic Influenza? It focuses on the four most effective behaviors to prevent community spread of flu and how to communicate these messages well. For use with sub-national and community leaders and community-level staff and volunteers reaching out to the public. It is relevant when a pandemic threatens (i.e., WHO Pandemic Alert Phase 4, or higher). The session is 3-4.75 hours.
Actions Local Leaders Can Take to Flight Pandemic Influenza
Participants should first receive the What is Pandemic Influenza? and Teaching Preventive Messages About Flu modules. This 2.5-3 hour session for sub-national and community leaders addresses actions they can—and must—take to fight pandemic influenza when it strikes their community. It covers social distancing and limiting community gatherings during a pandemic; priorities for communicating with the public; and identifying, monitoring, and assisting the neediest. It is a good introduction to a district-level pandemic preparedness planning exercise.
Track for Community Volunteers and Workers
Introduction & User Guide
Describes the Overall H2P training package (for both tracks)
What is Pandemic Influenza?
See above for description.
Teaching Preventive Messages About Flu
See above for description.
Infection Control for Community Health Responders
Participants should first receive the What is Pandemic Influenza? and Teaching Preventive Messages About Flu modules. This two-hour session tells how to minimize the risk of becoming infected during an influenza pandemic when caring for the sick, the importance of keeping cases isolated from other people, and what to do if taken ill. This session is relevant when a pandemic threatens (i.e., WHO Pandemic Alert Phase 4, or higher).
Home-Based Care
Participants should first receive the What is Pandemic Influenza?,Teaching Preventive Messages About Flu, and Infection Control modules. This 1.75-2.5 hour session teaches community volunteers and health workers the basic messages on how to treat simple influenza at home and the importance of keeping cases isolated from others. It is relevant when a pandemic threatens (i.e., WHO Pandemic Alert Phase 4, or higher).
Additional Tools to Support Training
H2P Country Planning Template (May 2009)
Pandemic Planning Template for national level stakeholders
District Planning Guidance and Template (May 2009)
This guidance is to assist leaders in the development or revision of humanitarian-sector contributions to district-level pandemic preparedness and response planning. It is directly linked to H2P guidance for national-level planning. Both country and district-level planning should be completed as soon as possible.
This exercise gives participants a picture of what may occur as an influenza pandemic develops. It is meant to increase participant awareness of the complexity and uncertainty of evolving pandemics and highlight specific areas for planning and coordination.
Emergency Communication Workshop: Generic Facilitator's Guide and Two and Three Day Training Agendas
This two- or three-day workshop allows decision makers, responders, and community members to work together to plan for communication preparedness in the event of a major emergency. Participants develop a comprehensive emergency communication plan and better understand roles and responsibilities. The workshop aims to develop: community-specific communication chains, a communications framework and plan, and guide how the plan should be institutionalized. Further information: www.avianflu.aed.org/globalpreparedness.htm.
Tools to Support Community Preparation for Food Security and the Protection of Livelihoods
Guide: How To Secure Food and Livelihoods of Communities in an Influenza Pandemic
This guide covers the basic steps that a community leader should take to secure the food and livelihoods of the households in their communities. It explores potential pandemic impacts on the availability of food and security of livelihoods, recommended leadership actions to minimize these negative effects. It highlights identification and support of vulnerable groups and includes sessions on response and recovery for the post-pandemic phase. It should be used at any time to train community leaders.
Powerpoint Slides: Overview of Food Security and Livelihoods
Developed for use by Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies, these powerpoint slides may also be useful for other organizations interested in these topics. The presentation addresses general both planning considerations and useful interventions and complements the Guide on How To Secure Food and Livelihoods of Communities in an Influenza Pandemic. It can be used with all audiences.
Indicators: Characteristics of Pandemic-Resistant Communities
This matrix presents a broad picture of what a "pandemic safe community" looks like and enable community leaders create innovative ways to get there.
A database of useful tools and documents of best practices and lessons learned for food and livelihood security during a pandemic. (XLS Spreadsheet)
For more resources, visit: www.pandemicpreparedness.org