Lessons and Best Practices on Risk Communication and Infodemic Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bhutan

• Published in: WHO South-East Asia journal of public health 2023-01, Vol.12 (1), p.71-77
• Main Authors: Dendup, Tandin, Tshering, Ugyen, Yangzom, Deki, Wangda, Sonam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2224-3151; 2304-5272
• DOI: 10.4103/WHO-SEAJPH.WHO-SEAJPH_163_22

During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) were instrumental in inducing behavior change in tandem with the evolving evidence and phases of the pandemic. Infodemic management also became one of the areas where much emphasis was laid in Bhutan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic along with other critical response strategies such as surveillance, contact tracing, quarantine, isolation, and testing. Over the past 3 years of the pandemic, much has been learnt about the significance and impact of RCCE. In this article, the authors will highlight some of the methods and practices that were implemented to manage public information and also share experiences with regard to RCCE over the course of Bhutan’s response to the pandemic. Furthermore, it will also outline some of the media and risk communication mechanisms that were in place before Bhutan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.