Page 84 - JSOM Winter 2024

Rapid Public Health Communication in an Austere Setting

Demonstrating the Ability of Off-the-Shelf Apps
to Communicate Public Health Information

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Morgan A. Torris-Hedlund, PhD, RN *; Kathryn C. Powell, MPH ;
Calista G. Lemley ; Billy Cortez 4
3

ABSTRACT
Timely implementation to contain infectious diseases (e.g., and cohesively communicating crucial information, fear and
quarantine, contact tracing, isolation) is critical to curb misinformation can be quieted, motivating adherence to pre-
transmission and safeguard the health and readiness of U.S. ventive guidelines and active participation in mitigation.
Servicemembers. This proactive approach ensures that mis-
sion-critical operations remain unaffected. We focus on the In presenting our intervention during the Salaknib 2023 ex-
collaborative efforts of Servicemembers from the 351st Civil ercise, we acknowledge that our findings are based on anec-
Affairs Command during the Salaknib 2023 exercise in the dotal reporting rather than comprehensive data analysis. We
Philippines. These Servicemembers harnessed readily available aim to provide an illustrative example of our intervention’s
cell phone applications to deliver rapid and effective public feasibility and potential effectiveness in mitigating the spread
health messaging, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases. of disease in military settings. While our observations suggest
Targeted infographics were created and disseminated through positive outcomes, further research with rigorous data collec-
mobile apps widely used by the population. The infographics tion and analysis is warranted to fully evaluate the impact of
were powerful tools for conveying critical, visually engaging such interventions.
information, facilitating rapid understanding and compliance
with recommended health measures. Balikatan and Salaknib
The joint training exercises Balikatan and Salaknib, held an-
Keywords: public health communication; off-the-shelf nually in the Philippines, foster cooperation and enhance the
technology; Army preventive medicine; deployed medicine military capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
and the United States Armed Forces through civil-military
operations. The Civil Affairs (CA) role within the exercises
focuses on engagement with civilian populations during mili-
Introduction
tary operations. The CA’s primary objective is establishing and
Responding rapidly to an infectious disease outbreak is crucial nurturing favorable relationships between military forces and
for the health and safety of U.S. Servicemembers. Implement- local populations. 10
ing timely containment measures (e.g., quarantine, contact
tracing, isolation) can limit human-to-human transmission Balikatan focuses on improving interoperability, strengthening
and curb the spread of infections. Ideally, interventions are the longstanding partnership between the two nations, and
1,2
implemented before the need for actions that impede opera- conducting training activities to develop mutual understanding
tional performance. This capability falls primarily on Army and promote security cooperation. Salaknib aims to enhance
Preventive Medicine (PM) and public health, who work to the readiness and effectiveness of the participating forces in
alleviate mission impacts. We describe how Servicemembers responding to natural disasters and other emergencies by fa-
from the 351 Civil Affairs Command provided prompt public cilitating collaboration among the Philippine military, local
st
health messaging, using off-the-shelf cell phone applications, government units, and international partners. Salaknib’s joint
to decrease the risk of waterborne disease during the Salaknib planning, coordination, and training ensures a well- coordinated
2023 exercise in the Philippines. response in times of need. 10

A quick public health response during a potential outbreak Preventive Medicine
dramatically bolsters the effectiveness of risk mitigation ef- U.S. Army PM personnel spearhead public health efforts to
forts. Preventing the spread of disease early leads to better safeguard force health protection through proactive measures.
1–4
patient outcomes, reduces the infection rate and ensures the Their skills lie in disease prevention, injury reduction, and the
operational capacity of military units. Identifying causative containment of communicable diseases within military popu-
1–5
agents enables medical providers to develop targeted thera- lations. PM personnel draw on critical public health principles,
peutics and prophylactic interventions. Additionally, rapid re- using essential functions such as health education, disease sur-
sponse fosters public trust in health authorities and encourages veillance, environmental health, industrial hygiene, and recog-
engagement with public health measures. 1,5–9 By transparently nition of deployment health trends. 3,4
*Correspondence to morgan.a.torrishedlund.mil@army.mil
1 LTC Morgan A. Torris-Hedlund and SFC Kathryn C. Powell are affiliated with 351st CACOM FxSP, Mountain View, CA. SGT Calista G.
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2
4
Lemley and SPC Billy Cortez are affiliated with the 25 Infantry Division, Wahiawa, HI.
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