(to the tune of My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua Hawai`i - Bill Cogswell, Tommy Harrison & Johnny Noble - Copyright 1933, 1961 Miller Music Corp)

Performance at HealthCamp San Diego 2011

Vamp G7 C7 F x2
F
Won't you please give me my data back
G7
After all it belongs to me
C7
It came from my body
F
When you turned my viral load / into a code
A7
I know you're here to help me
D7
And you've got my best interests at heart
G7
but maybe things could go better, if
C7
someone on the / team knew more a/bout me than the / chart
F
It wouldn't be the first time that a patient
G7
Helped to find their cure
C7
People with terminal conditions
B A7
Are quick studies... believe me
D7
I'm called a patient 'cause I am the one here on the table. If our G7
roles were reversed, would you be able
F
To not have access to your own data
G7
After all it belongs to you
C7
Wouldn't you want to be a part
F
of what's happening inside your body
C7
What we're really asking for
F C7 F
is our dignity

In public health, particularly in pandemic preparedness, dissemination of authoritative, accurate information to the public is a key issue.  The message must be propagated across as wide an audience as possible, while ensuring that the message does not change as it is dispersed.

The most efficient method of dispersing information throughout a community is to relay the message to the key information nodes and allow the information to propagate through the effective channels each community has naturally developed.  This the basis for the Domain Name System (DNS), the Internet's "address book", which is quite robust.  One-to-all electronic technologies, such as RSS and widgets, will work only as long as there is electricity to power connected devices.  Neither technology can cross the digital divide.

As for keeping the message consistent, I recently attended a lecture given by Dr. Robert Provine of the University of Maryland School of Music.  During the Q&A Dr. Provine was asked why lyrics of certain children's songs had not changed over time  He explained that oral traditions are conservative in nature, meaning information is preserved, rather than altered.  In his research he has found that children's songs, as well certain imported sacred traditions, rarely undergo change.

How can this be applied to pandemic preparedness and response?  Perhaps by following the lead of successful HIV/AIDS information outreach programs and actively engaging community information nodes (teachers, religious/spiritual leaders, hair stylists, and servers/bartenders).  State and local public health officials (using accurate, authoritative guidance) can interact with these individuals face-to-face.    They, in turn, will interact face-to-face with citizens.  Allow the message to be propagated into communities through an oral tradition.

What message are they given?  That's a separate discussion.  However, they could teach a song about washing hands and staying home when you're sick...

(to the tune of "This Old Man")
Wash your hands
Cover your cough
If you're sick, take a day off
Go to Flu dot gov or W H O
For the things that you should know

It's kind of catchy, actually.