COMMUNICATIONS WORKING GROUP REPORT

SEPTEMBER 12 2007

After the Vancouver symposium, a communications working group was established based on volunteers from the symposium. This group has 3 active members. If anybody wishes to join, they are welcome to do so (send a mail to Torill.Bull@iuh.uib.no)

Objectives
The task of this group is to prepare communication tools for ISECN. The system of communication must be in concordance with the basic goals and values of ISECN and IUHPE. It is important that the communication system provides for linguistic equity and for regional equity. Also, the system should allow for health promoters from developing and remote areas with poor computer accessibility to have as efficient communication with the network as possible. It should provide a forum for interaction and exchange.

Actions taken after Vancouver
A mailing list has been established with the addresses of those present at the symposium. (The list longs to grow – those interested in joining can send a mail to Torill.Bull@iuh.uib.no)
A blog has been established at the address http://iuhpecom.blogspot.com/. We invite all to share comments at this blog, where we will post updates from our work. This is a good place to share your wishes and ideas concerning communication within the network!
The working group has been brainstorming and sharing ideas, and has recently distributed tasks for the ongoing development of a communication system.

Tasks at hand in the nearest future
Construct a test website for experimenting with good tools like blogs, forums, chatting rooms, databases etc. On this site we will also test the use of machine translation software to see if this can be of help in some parts of the linguistic equity work.
To gather information from existing networks about which communication tools have been found most helpful in their experience.
To contact health promoters working in remote areas to collect ideas and wishes as to how we can best include them and give them as good access to the network as possible.
To get accept for having regular newsletters in P&E, possibly in the networking section. This as a means of equitable access, as all IUHPE members receive the P&E.


Torill