Risk Communication and Community Engagement in Health Emergencies: Lessons from Tonga’s COVID-19 Response and Infodemic Management.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical weaknesses in risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) worldwide, particularly for small island developing states like Tonga, which face overlapping health emergencies and escalating climate risks. In 2022, Tonga experienced an unprecedented sequence of crises – the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai volcanic eruption, a subsequent tsunami, and its first COVID-19 outbreak – which strained its health system and highlighted the threat of rampant misinformation. In response, Tonga developed and implemented a pioneering Multi-Hazard RCCE Strategy that embeds infodemic management, social listening, and culturally responsive community partnerships into national emergency preparedness.

The aim of this article is to describe how Tonga’s experience offers a valuable model for other resource-limited countries to strengthen health risk communication systems and build resilient, trusted pathways for public engagement. Drawing on lessons from COVID-19 and other health campaigns such as the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination rollout, the article outlines how Tonga’s strategy leverages multi-sectoral collaboration, faith-based leadership, and community-driven communication to counter misinformation and increase public trust. This experience demonstrates the importance of integrating RCCE into health security planning and highlights practical approaches for fostering community resilience in the face of complex and concurrent health and climate challenges.