The Zika virus outbreak is a good example of the importance of document translation services globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) has determined that health communication is of crucial importance and has to take place in a variety of languages to be effective. Different methods of communication are used depending on the location of the disease and the language which needs to be used to communicate the problem.
Sometimes it is necessary to translate the information about a disease into a multitude of languages depending on where the information is needed. Health communicators also need to think about the media they are going to use when transferring information about a health issue. In some countries where the Internet is prevalent and almost everyone goes online at least once a day and there are other times when the most effective form of communication is through the TV and radio which is the most used media with that particular language group.
For example, in certain parts of Africa, TV and radio are the most suitable, especially in urban areas. For more rural areas, where there is no regular electricity supply and no TV, disseminating health information may need to be done in the language of the people, through resources such as leaflets and posters. In some cases a health spokesperson may be sent to the area to verbally explain the problem.
When it comes to the outbreak of a dangerous disease it is important to send out an accurate message to the people concerned, which means it has to be translated correctly into the language of the people. Leaflets written in English where there are low levels of literacy in that language won’t help people understand the issue at all.
It is not only important to get the language right but the translation too. The only way to ensure the message has been translated correctly into the language of concern is to get several NAATI translators (or the equivalent in other countries) to check it to ensure the right message is going to be conveyed to the right people.
A study that took place in the United Kingdom throughout the 2009 flu epidemic found that as soon as the information about protecting oneself from getting the flu was transmitted to the people, the quicker the people reacted and used measures to protect themselves. This only emphasises that as long as the right language is used, the communication will be effective and the people who are likely to be affected will alter their habits.
