The Role of Strategic Communication in Supporting Public Health Literacy
Bogor, February 12, 2024 – In an effort to enhance public health literacy, Nutrifood once again held an educational session titled Opening Session Nutriclass Academy: The Importance of Education and Health Literacy for a Healthier Society. The event, which took place at Bobocabin Gunung Mas, Puncak, featured expert speaker Elvera N. Makki, Founder & CEO of VMCS Public Relations and President of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Indonesia Chapter, and was also attended by journalists as well as the parenting community.
In her presentation titled The Role of Strategic Communication in Supporting Public Health Literacy, Elvera highlighted the importance of effective communication in delivering health information. “The ability of individuals to understand and use health information is crucial in improving public well-being,” said Elvera. She emphasized that journalists serve as the frontline in ensuring that disseminated health information is accurate, engaging, and data-driven.
Furthermore, Elvera outlined several communication strategies that can be used to enhance health literacy, such as using simple language, visualizing data through infographics, and employing storytelling techniques to increase audience engagement. “People find it easier to understand and remember information when it is presented in a story format rather than just statistical data,” she added.
The event also addressed key challenges in the dissemination of health information in the digital era, including the spread of misinformation and disinformation. According to The Global Risks Report 2025 by the World Economic Forum, misinformation and disinformation are predicted to be among the greatest global threats in the first two years until 2027. Therefore, Elvera emphasized the importance of collaboration between media, communication professionals, and health institutions to ensure that credible and consistent information reaches the public.
As part of the discussion, Elvera shared examples of successful global health campaigns, such as Clean Hands Save Lives by UNICEF, which effectively promoted handwashing habits and reduced cases of diarrhea, and Malaria Must Die, which used viral videos and well-known figures to raise awareness about the dangers of malaria.
Nutriclass Academy stands as a testament to Nutrifood’s commitment to promoting health education, particularly through its #BatasiGGL (Limit Sugar, Salt, and Fat) campaign. With strong collaboration between media and communication professionals, public health literacy is expected to improve, enabling individuals to make better decisions for their overall well-being.