Categorizing the Risk

The issue of the AIDS epidemic in Africa almost can fit into all three categories of risk communication. They are “Care, Consensus, and Crisis” communication. Each method provides for the most effective way to deliver a message to the audience depending on the time and circumstances. The main risk I am trying to communicate is the repercussions of not putting an end to the harmful effects of HIV and AIDS on the people and societies within the African continent.

If the problem had not magnified into what it is today, and a plan was being devised on how to prevent or deal with the health care risks of AIDS, it could be considered “care communication”. Since the circumstances have led to the rapid spread of the HIV virus, “care communication” only now comes into play in communicating the risks of it progressing any further. There are certain people who can benefit greatly from this. It would tremendously help the situation if uninfected people were provided with some sort of plan describing the risks involved and how to manage them. If “care communication” had been implemented prior to the outbreak of AIDS, the situation may not have become as big of an issue as it is today.

But for the most part, “care communication” is not the proper way to communicate this risk. The AIDS outbreak poses an immediate threat to the people mainly located in Sub-Saharan Africa, which falls under another category, “crisis communication”. The majority of the audience is a group of people who are already HIV positive. This type of risk communication deals with communicating risks during an emergency. This seems like the most appropriate or logical method to use. The outbreak has already occurred and extremely high numbers of people are becoming infected daily. It is important for a plan to be put into action. At this point, they have surpassed the “care” phase and seemingly fit right into the “crisis” phase. If I had to choose only one category to use to communicate this risk, it would be “crisis communication”.

Lastly, alongside “care communication” comes “consensus communication”. It consists of groups working together to make a decision on how to manage the risks. In order for this risk to be taken care of, groups do need to collaborate with one and other. The people of Africa cannot put an end to this on their own. The same goes for any outside efforts. It would be completely hopeless to attempt to intervene in a society without their input. “Consensus communication” allows everyone who has some stake in the management of the risk to work with hand in hand and become involved. This category seems to be an underlying tactic for both “care” and “crisis” communication.

Since different parts of Africa are at different phases when it comes to the AIDS epidemic, all three methods of communication are important and useful. It is vital to put a strong emphasis on the fact that action needs to be taken immediately ultimately placing this issue under “crisis communication”.