X Annual Evaluation Meeting and the XIX Steering Committee Meeting for the Amazon Malaria Initiative/Amazon Network for the Surveillance of Antimalarial Drug Resistance in Panama
March 22-25, 2011
Country and international partners and stakeholders participated in the X Annual Evaluation Meeting and the XIX Steering Committee Meeting for the Amazon Malaria Initiative (AMI)/Amazon Network for the Surveillance of Antimalarial Drug Resistance (RAVREDA) in Panama City, Panama, on March 21 to 25, 2011. The purpose of the joint meetings is to allow AMI partners to exchange information about achievements, contributions, and lessons learned made to malaria control efforts in the Latin American and Caribbean region as a result of AMI/RAVREDA. The materials and meeting presentations are posted at Resources Section in Selected Presentations. Read more.

---

Technical Intersectoral Meeting for Developing an Integral Proposal for Preventing and Controlling Tuberculosis in High Risk Areas in Madre de Dios, Peru
March, 16-19, 2011
Links Media, along with other technical and country partners including representatives from United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Peru and the Regional Health Directorate, participated in a working meeting in Madre de Dios, Peru to review baselines results and other information related to the public health status of that area in Peru, specifically with regards to tuberculosis. During the meeting, partners also worked to design a set of interventions and a logical framework to address the problems identified using the Approach developed and executed by the South American Infectious Diseases Initiative (SAIDI). Partners also were successful in developing a strategic plan for the pilot program activities based on this approach to be implemented.

• Read more from the USAID/Peru's Facebook about the SAIDI approach being applied.
• Read more from the USAID SAIDI Website about the SAIDI approach being applied.

---

Links Media presents new document that summarizes SAIDI's approach concept to contain antimicrobial resistance
March, 2011
Links Media, in collaboration with international partners, have published the Approach Used by the South American Infectious Diseases Initiative to Address Antimicrobial Resistance, which is a report summarizing important information about the initiative. This report explains the South American Infectious Diseases Initiative's (SAIDI's) subregional approach to contain antimicrobial resistance, particularly multidrug-resistance tuberculosis in Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru. Read more.

---

Links Media presented Creating and Delivering Effective Presentations Webinar
February and March, 2011
Links Media developed and conducted two virtual training sessions (one in English and one in Spanish). The training's objectives were to: i) demonstrate the importance of avoiding the use of traditional design slides and bullet points in presentations; ii) present the benefits of designing slides using an assertion headline supported by visual evidence; and, iii) enhance presentation skills for communicating general topics and information about technical work in a simplified manner to garner and maintain the audience's attention, among others. You can view the presentations online. (In English) (In Spanish)

---

Links Media provides technical assistance on design of Frontlines and Insider from USAID
January 2011
Links Media has been awarded a contract with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to design and produce the Agency's highly-acclaimed magazines, FrontLines and the Insider. As an enhancement to the two publications, Links Media will be developing a Web-based version of both documents in addition to the print version. The FrontLines magazine features articles about USAID; international development and humanitarian assistance efforts around the world; and, the people who are dedicated to these efforts. The magazines are currently being bimonthly and distributed electronically and in print to over 32,000 subscribers. Read more.

---

Links Media and AMI participated in the commemoration of the 2010 Malaria Day in the Americas
November 4, 2010
Links Media worked to support the coordination and execution of the 2010 Malaria Day in the Americas, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization, the Pan American Health and Education Foundation, and George Washington University, School of Public Health to further public awareness about this infectious disease in the region. The regional event was titled 2010 Malaria in the Americas Forum: Counting Malaria Out—Promoting Best Practices and Collaboration. Suriname, Brazil, and Colombia were honored as "Malaria Champions of the Americas" during the celebration at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington, DC. More information.

---

Links Media held the third virtual meeting to promote and further strengthen the South-South SAIDI collaboration
October 21, 2010
Links Media organized and conducted a third virtual meeting to promote and further strengthen the South-South collaboration between Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru. The objectives of the meeting were to (i) attain updates regarding current SAIDI-related efforts in each partner country; (ii) exchange opinions, results, achievements, and lessons learned; and, (iii) stimulate Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru SAIDI partners to continue communication activities and a structured and frequent South-South collaboration. Read more

---

Links Media increase capacity for planning, implementing, and promoting an AMI/RAVREDA event for Malaria Day in the Americas
October 8, 2010
Links Media developed and conducted two sets of virtual training sessions (each set, one in English and one in Spanish) for planning, implementing, and promoting an AMI/RAVREDA event for Malaria Day in the Americas. You can view the presentations online.

• Planning and Implementing an AMI/RAVREDA Event (September 22 and 23) (English) (Spanish)
• Social and Traditional Media Elements for Promoting an AMI/RAVREDA Event (October 6 and 7) (English) (Spanish)

---

The Amazon Malaria Initiative: Goals and Accomplishments—October 2001–May 2009
September 2010
Links Media, in collaboration with technical partners, published a multiyear report which summarizes important information about the Amazon Malaria Initiative (AMI). The report explains AMI's subregional approach, which has promoted evidence-based decisionmaking in the Amazon Basin region and fosters multicountry collaboration. Read more.

On September 30, 2010, Links Media presented on its efforts to enhance communication efforts in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region during an avian or pandemic influenza situation.
The presentation, titled "Communications for Crisis Response Investments in LAC," will be held as part of a brown bag event at the United States Agency for International Development headquarters. Marisabel Sanchez, Links Media President & CEO, will discuss the core projects successfully implemented by the company, its vision of the public health communications space, and future plans.

September 16-17, 2010, Links Media participated in the Pan American Health Organization's (PAHO's) Technical Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention and Control meeting the PAHO headquarters.
At the meeting, Links Media provided inputs for the PAHO Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Program activities in the next two years. Links Media offered recommendations for the efficient communication strategies to support AMR surveillance and infection control programs.

The South America Infectious Diseases Initiative (SAIDI) Steering Committee Meeting took place September 10, 2010 at the Arlington offices of Management Sciences for Health (MSH).
Representatives of the technical partners - United States Agency for International Development, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MSH, PAHO, U.S. Pharmacopeia, Links Media, and Research Triangle Institute – discussed the activities for the 2009-2010 project year and plans for the 2010-2011 project year. At the meeting, Links Media presented on past and future communication and information dissemination activities.

The Amazon Malaria Initiative (AMI)/Amazon Network for the Surveillance of Antimalarial Drug Resistance (RAVREDA) held its Steering Committee Meeting on September 8-9 at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Headquarters.
The event was attended by AMI/RAVREDA technical partners (e.g., United States Agency for International Development, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Management Sciences for Health, PAHO, U.S. Pharmacopeia, Links Media, and Research Triangle Institute) and country partners. The participants discussed the past year's accomplishments and challenges, and next year's scope of work. They also reviewed the financial and organizational aspects. As the partner responsible for managing the Initiative's communication and information dissemination activities, Links Media delivered updates on AMI/RAVREDA's communications efforts. Links Media's contribution as partner included: editorial and publication support, traditional media outreach, social media projects, AMI Webpage development and maintenance including a password-protected Partners' Portal, support for in-country training, materials development including the branding of AMI/RAVREDA materials, and other activities.

Links Media News from Paraguay:

News from Bolivia. Read more.

Links Media secured extensive coverage in The Language Magazine for its client, National Security Education Program (NSEP).
The story explores ‘What Business Wants: Language Needs in the 21st Century,’ a report that provides impetus to get languages in the core curriculum. Read more.

What Business Wants: Language Needs in the 21st Century
On March 2, at the National Press Club, four senior executives talked about the urgent need for more multilingual employees for the U.S. to be competitive in the next age of globalization. The speakers, business and academic leaders endorsed the arrival of a new report “What Business Wants: Language Needs in the 21st Century” produced by The Language Flagship, an initiative of the National Security Education Program at the U.S. Department of Defense. Read more.

Haiti Earthquake Relief
Our hearts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters from Haiti. Let's mobilize to help our friends recover from this terrible tragedy. You can find updates and opportunities on how to contribute by linking to reputable organizations such as:

Links Media Provides Translation Services in Support of Haitian Relief Efforts
(Gaithersburg, Md., Jan. 26, 2010) — In response to an urgent request from the Department of Homeland Security, Links Media translated several U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) documents from English into French and Haitian Creole. These instructions help Haitians apply for temporary protection status (TPS) and employment authorization. The Department of Homeland Security announced these temporary relief measures in the aftermath of January 12’s devastating earthquake. The instructions and forms, USCIS Haitian Relief Measures Questions and Answers, and Forms I-765 and I-821, are available here.

Guyana develops Operational Communication Plan for Pandemic Influenza Response
January 26, 2010 — Guyana is about to take a decisive step in addressing the important issue of pandemic influenza. Under the direction of the Ministry of Health, the Caribbean nation is gathering key decisionmakers from January 26-28, 2010, to begin the development of a National Operational Influenza Pandemic Communication Strategy. See media coverage:

December 14, 2009
Paraguay launches a National Network of Communicators.
From left to right: Marisabel Sánchez, President, Links Media; Dr. Esperanza Martínez, Minister of Public Health and Social Wellbeing; Graciela Ávila, USAID/Paraguay Representative; Dr. Iván Allende, General Director of Health Surveillance of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Wellbeing at the opening ceremony of the Working Meeting: Introduction to the National Communication Plan for Avian Influenza and an Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response in Paraguay.
For more news coverage:

November, 2009
Saint Lucia launches the national Pandemic Influenza Communications Strategy.
For more news coverage:

October 28, 2009
Links Media launches the Pandemic Influenza Web site, which provides key information about pandemic preparedness for the Latin America and Caribbean Region. Through this Web site, visitors can have access to the Leadership During a Pandemic: What Your Municipality Can Do Toolkit, which provides information for municipal-level pandemic influenza preparedness and response.

September 21-23, 2009
Links Media hosts a partnership meeting with USAID, MSH, and Tango International to finalize The Multi-Sector Tool Kit for Pandemic Preparedness.

July 25, 2009
Countries race to contain resistance to key antimalarial Read more.
Special Report from The Lancet