Public Relations Zika Virus

Question: Discuss about thePublic Relationsfor Zika Virus. Answer: Introduction In recent past, Zika virus has emerged as one of the prime medical phenomenon that has affected many people in different parts of Singapore. Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes. However, in-depth analysis regarding Zika virus has highlighted the fact that the virus can also be transmitted through Aedes albopictus and sexual intercourse. Furthermore, the symptoms of the virus are similar to the transmission cycle and clinical epidemiology as dengue and chikungunya (Weger-Lucarelli et al., 2016). Therefore, it has developed medical challenges for the government of Singapore in order to counter the issue in an effective manner. The present outbreak of Zika virus is associated with the increase in congenital malformations, Guillain-Barr syndrome (GBS) and microcephaly. It has increases the overall health issues of several economies alarmingly. In 2015, public health emergency has been announced by Brazil. For that reason, Ministry of Health has tried to develop strategies in such a way so that it can have major positive impact on the health issues of the Singaporean people. Here, the focus will be on the evaluation of the best possible strategies that have the potential to fulfil all the objectives regarding the issues related to Zika virus effectively. In 1947, Zika virus was firstly identified in a monkey in a Uganda forest, which was later isolated in humans. As per the article by Wong et al. (2013) Zika virus has been spreading several diseases in Asia and Africa. Therefore, Singapore also has to face major threats regarding the issues related to Zika virus. On the other hand, the prime objectives of Ministry of Health at Singapore are to develop a healthy nation where all the people can lead their life freely. For that reason, the mission statement of Ministry of Health has been focused towards promoting good health of the people. However, the present issue has created big challenge for the organization to fulfil all the goal s in an appropriate manner. Impact of the Issue of Organization: As the number has increased regarding the number of people affected by the Zika virus in Singapore, it has created big question mark over the roles and responsibilities of the organization (Alera et al., 2015). Many experts have highlighted that Ministry of Health at Singapore has not taken proper precautions in order to counter the Zika virus effectively. Therefore, it has created direct adverse impact on the overall goodwill of the organization. It has been registered that around 383 patients is suffering from the Zika virus that includes 8 pregnant female as well. On the other hand, World Health organization (WHO) has declared Zika virus as a global public health emergency, as it has the capability to infect underdeveloped brains of babies (Oehler et al., 2014). In fact, it can also create huge amount of adverse impact on the present health of pregnant women. SMART Objectives: S-Specific To initiate several promotional and awareness campaign for the complete elimination of the health issues regarding Zika virus from the Singapore M-Measurable To reduce the number of infected people below 100 in next three months through the utilization of vaccination program A-Attainable To develop specific conference regarding spreading the symptoms and affects of Zika virus on human body R-Realistic To conduct special road shows for creating awareness in order to protect the babies and pregnant women from Zika virus T-Timeframe To fulfil the entire objectives within the 12 months timeframe Table 1: SMART objectives (Source: Li et al., 2012) Description of the Research Methodology: From the above discussion, it can be assessed that Zika virus can actually create serious impact on the overall health condition of the people. Therefore, it has become necessary for the Ministry of Health at Singapore to implement effective methodologies in order to counter the issue in an appropriate manner. As per the article by Gourinat et al. (2015) the best way to eliminate adverse impact of Zika virus is to have in-depth information regarding the initial syndrome and after affects on the health condition of the people. Therefore, the Ministry of Health will have to provide conscious focus on the manuscripts, news articles, previous records and other debates in order to keep track of the record in an appropriate manner. However, it is necessary for the Ministry of Health to implement a systematic approach to collect information from the mentioned source in order to draw an appropriate idea about the significance of Zika virus on the health condition of the people (Maurer-Stroh et al., 2016). Thus, Ministry of Health can initiate case study analysis to gather extend information regarding the Zika virus issue. It will also help to highlight the present facts and numbers that have been created due to Zika outbreak. Now, Zika virus is relative new and uncommon disease that has emerged as one of the prime threats regarding the overall health condition of the people in Singapore. Therefore, case study analysis will help Ministry of Health to become aware about the recent incidents related to Zika virus. Qualitative research technique will be implemented for capturing in-depth information about the Zika virus topic. As per the article by Grard et al. (2014) qualitative research technique has the capability to analyse contemporary real life circumstances. It helps to capture in-depth as well as different sides of a particular topic. Unlike quantitative information that only provides a trend regarding a particular issue, qualitative information has the potential to increase the value of the overall research study (DiLuca et al., 2016). In fact, it can also provide specific recommendations in order to resolve a particular issue. Therefore, it will help Ministry of Health to develop unique ideas that can create major positive impact on the real life situation. The study will focus only on the secondary information collection method, as it will help to cover all aspects of the issue in an effective manner. Furthermore, as Zika virus is a new concept, it will be very difficult to collect e ffective primary data. Since, majority of the people do not have any clear idea regarding the way it affects the health condition of an individual (Musso et al., 2014). The research methodology will be utilized in such a way so that it able to provide clear idea for eliminating the issue from the community (Weaver et al., 2016). For that reason, five systematic steps including collection of information and idea, research questions development, logical linking, ascertainment of the proposition and effective analysis will have to be implemented so that all aspects of the issue can be covered in an effective manner. Stakeholders and Publics Strategies: As per the article by Zammarchi et al. (2015), stakeholder coordination is necessary in order to implement strategies in an appropriate manner. For instance, Singapore is regarded as one of the popular tourist destination of the entire world. Therefore, many foreigners visit Singapore every year that has also increased the possibility of Zika virus inclusion from outside of the country (Anderson, Thomas Endy, 2016). Thus, tourism stakeholders will have to impose a closer look on the tourists in order to maintain the overall health condition of the community. Furthermore, tourism stakeholders will have to impose specific rules and regulations regarding the Zika virus issue in order to restrict the tourists from spreading the virus into all parts of the community. Furthermore, other stakeholders also have to initiate several preventive steps in order to counter the issue of Zika virus (Balm et al., 2012). For instance, Ministry of Health will have to focus on the proper utilization pr ecautionary medicines so that Zika virus cannot able to create desired amount of impact. In addition, proper medical intervention will have to be imposing on the affected people so that other remains safe from the adverse affect of the virus (Hamel et al., 2015). Ministry of Health at Singapore will not only have to store sufficient medicine for the affected people but also will have to develop antidotes which will be capable of reducing the issues related to Zika virus. However, the recent Zika outbreaks have increased necessity of proper utilization of medical intervention. Otherwise, it will affect health condition of more people from Singapore. Strategies will also have to include proper utilization of information flow among all the stakeholders (Diagne et al., 2015). Therefore, Ministry of Health will have to develop effective communication channel so that all the strategies can be initiated in an appropriate manner. However, identification of affected people by Zika virus is extremely difficult, as majority of the people often confused it with several other diseases like dengue. Therefore, it is important from the perspectives of medical stakeholders to initiate effective promotion and awareness campaign so that people can easily recognize the disease. Furthermore, Ministry of Health at Singapore will have to provide the regular health check-up system for all the people so that the virus can be detected at the early stage. It will also help to reduce the possibility of affecting other people in an appropriate manner (Ioos et al., 2014). As mentioned earlier, Zika virus primarily spread from the bite of the affected mosquitoes. Therefore, all the stakeholders will have to focus on the elimination of the affected mosquitoes from the community. For instance, stakeholders will have to focus on the reduction of unnecessary storage of water within the community. It also has to focus on maintaining the clean and healthy atmosphere so that the issues related to Zika virus can be remained under control. As per the article by Chouin-Carneiro et al. (2016) the Zika virus often affects babies and pregnant women very easily. Therefore, stakeholders will also have to provide special attention towards the pregnant women and children in order to eliminate the adverse impact of the Zika virus. For instance, children will have to utilize specific anti-mosquitoes cream to avoid bitten by any Zika virus affected mosquitoes (Hofer, 2016). Furthermore, information related to Zika virus will also have to convey in the educational platforms so that people from different age group can have clear idea regarding the kind of impact it can have on the overall health condition of the people (Song et al., 2016). Channel and Tactics: As the scale of Zika virus continuously grows to include several new countries, WHO has highlighted the significance of the development of proper channel in order to counter the issue in an appropriate manner. WHO also has highlighted the importance of proper coordination in order to counter the issue related to Zika virus. Now, in order to fulfil the objective, Ministry of Health at Singapore first will have to focus on collecting funds from several government departments. The prime objective will to initiate promotional campaign like road shows, conferences so that people become more aware about the Zika virus (Hennessey et al., 2016). As per the article by Pyke et al. (2014) it is important to include many agencies, as it will help to cover all the each and every area related to Zika virus issue in an effective manner. On the other hand, Musso Gubler (2015) have highlighted the significance of RD departments in order to fulfil the tactics in an effective manner. Since, medical in tervention is necessary for the successful fulfilment of all the objectives. The above figure also has highlighted that Ministry of Health will have to consider the help of NGOs at the time of developing awareness in different parts of the community. It has been assessed that NGOs maintain close relation with the people from different financial condition (Richard, Paoaafaite Cao-Lormeau, 2016). Therefore, it will be easier for the NGOs to spread awareness regarding the Zika outbreak. Timeline: Activities 1-2 Moths 3-4 Months 5-6 Months 7-9 Months 10-11 Months 12 Months Background study Consideration different research technique Evaluation of previous data Case study analysis Newspaper and journal analysis Promotional technique selection Utilization of awareness program Future evaluation process Table 2: Gantt chart (Source: As created by the author) Evaluation Methods: The evaluation of the implemented process will be complex as Zika virus is continuously spreading geographically. In fact, it has been identified that Zika virus is spreading in the areas where component vectors are present. Furthermore, people are living in the environment where mosquitoes can also live and bread properly. It has also increased the possibility of Aedes mosquitoes to spread the Zika viruses in an appropriate manner. Therefore, the evaluation will not have to be restricted with the number of people that are affecting by the Zika virus. Rather, Ministry of Health will also have to analyse how quickly the virus is being detected in the human body. Furthermore, Ministry of Health at Singapore will also work closely with the WHO for assessing the nature of Zika virus in an effective manner. This will reduce the number of people affecting by the Zika virus in an appropriate manner. However, conscious effort will have to make on reducing the numbers of people affected peopl e in order to fulfil all the objectives in an effective manner. Conclusion: From the above discussion, it can be assessed that Zika virus has emerged as a medical phenomenon is recent times. People from all across the world are getting ill due to the Zika virus. Therefore, it has become responsibility of government to develop strategies to counter the matter in an appropriate manner. 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