Communicating risks saves lives and strengthens communities

We improved the emergency response in Equatorial Guinea.

Equatorial Guinea takes a key step to protect the health of its population. The Ministry of Health, Social Welfare and Health Infrastructure (MINSABSIS) , with technical support from the Religious Foundation for Health (FRS) and UNICEF , is promoting new national tools that strengthen communication and community participation in health emergencies, fostering prevention and building public trust.

From September 30 to October 3, 2025 , technicians from the Ministry of Health (MINSABSIS ), through the National Directorate of Health Education, Communication, and Social Mobilization (ESCMOVS) , worked in Riaba on the development of the National Risk Communication and Community Participation Plan . This plan provides guidance on how to inform the public clearly, promptly, and transparently during epidemics, natural disasters, or health crises. Additionally, from October 7 to 11 , in Ebibeyín , progress was made on the development of the Risk Communication and Community Participation Protocol for emergencies and disasters , with the aim of improving coordination between institutions and communities.

“ When information is clear and timely, people can make better decisions to protect their health ,” is the key takeaway from the workshop. Healthcare professionals and community leaders also emphasized that these documents strengthen public trust and facilitate a more coordinated response to future public health emergencies.

With this technical support, the Religious Foundation for Health (FRS) reaffirms its commitment to the institutional strengthening of the Equatorial Guinean health system, supporting processes that put people at the center and contribute to building more informed, resilient and future-ready communities .

#PublicHealth #RiskCommunication #EquatorialGuinea #CommunityParticipation