Using Social Media to tackle the threats to Global Health: Fragile and Vulnerable Settings

The World Health Organization (n.d) published an article on the threats to Global Health in 2019 which included air pollution and climate change, noncommunicable diseases, global influenza pandemic, fragile and vulnerable settings, antimicrobial resistance, ebola and other high-threat pathogens, weak primary health care, vaccine hesitancy, dengue, and HIV. Since then many other threats have emerged such as climate change-related disasters, the Ukraine conflict, and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.?

The population's involvement is essential to addressing these threats. The population must take responsibility for their world, and the first step to getting them involved is to raise awareness. A strong social media strategy is an excellent way to raise awareness among the population. In the weeks to come, we will discuss how each of the threats can be addressed using social media strategies.

Fragile and Vulnerable Settings

People in fragile and vulnerable communities deal with issues such as poor access to healthcare, poor access to education, poverty, war, and displaced people. Women are disproportionately exposed to a number of gender-specific health risks in fragile contexts. Fragile settings increase girls' vulnerability to underaged marriages, mutilation, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

People in fragile communities suffer the effects of climate change most of all. Some vulnerable communities are located in regions that are more prone to climate-related hazards, such as coastal areas vulnerable to sea-level rise and storm surges, or arid regions susceptible to droughts. Their geographical location makes them inherently more exposed to climate risks.

These settings require special attention, humanitarian aid, and development efforts to strengthen institutions, improve living conditions, and build resilience to crises. Social media can be a powerful tool in influencing the population on how to address the horrors faced by those living in fragile communities.?

Social Media advocacy can influence policies to prioritize vulnerable settings

Social media initiatives can have a significant influence on policy development and implementation in fragile settings. Individuals and communities in fragile settings can amplify their voices and share their experiences which can draw attention to the specific challenges they face in their communities, such as inadequate healthcare access or infrastructure. This can put pressure on policymakers to address these issues and prioritize them in policy discussions.

Social media initiatives can raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by fragile settings. By sharing stories, photos, and videos, individuals and organizations can bring these issues to a global audience. This heightened awareness can lead to increased public and political interest in finding solutions and allocating resources to address the problems faced by these vulnerable populations.

Social media is a powerful tool for launching advocacy campaigns. NGOs, civil society organizations, and concerned citizens can use platforms like Twitter to start trending hashtags, launch online petitions, and organize virtual rallies. These campaigns can target policymakers directly, urging them to take action on specific issues related to fragile settings, such as healthcare access or conflict resolution.

Social media can be used to share data and evidence related to fragile settings. Researchers, experts, and organizations can use platforms to disseminate studies, reports, and findings that highlight the pressing challenges and potential solutions. Policymakers often rely on such evidence-based information to make informed decisions and craft effective policies.

Social media can mobilize support from a broad range of stakeholders, including celebrities, influencers, and global communities. When influential figures take up a cause related to fragile settings, it can generate significant attention and encourage policymakers to take action. Celebrities and influencers can use their reach to advocate for specific policy changes or fundraising efforts.

Social media can serve as a platform for crowdsourcing policy ideas and solutions. Governments and international organizations can use online surveys, polls, and open forums to gather input from a diverse range of stakeholders, including those directly affected by fragile settings. This collaborative approach can lead to more inclusive and effective policy development.

Social media initiatives can monitor policy implementation in real time. Activists and organizations can track progress, report on successes and failures, and hold policymakers accountable by sharing updates and feedback directly with the public. This transparency can pressure policymakers to stay committed to their promises and make necessary adjustments when needed.

Conclusion

Social media initiatives have the potential to influence policy development and implementation in fragile settings by amplifying voices, raising awareness, launching advocacy campaigns, engaging with policymakers, sharing data and evidence, mobilizing support, crowdsourcing ideas, and monitoring accountability. To be effective, these initiatives should be strategic, data-driven, and collaborative efforts that harness the power of online communities to drive positive change in the policies that affect the most vulnerable populations.

References

World Health Organisation (n.d) Ten threats to global health in 2019, Available at:

https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/ten-threats-to-global-health-in-2019