A Spanish-language digital ad campaign aimed at protecting outdoor workers from tick and mosquito borne diseases has been honored by the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC).

Fairfax County Health Department’s “Combata las Picaduras” (Fight the Bite) campaign received a gold award in the government health marketing category of the 2019 Berreth Awards, recognizing excellence in public health communication. The awards are named for the late Donald Berreth, former director of the Office of Public Affairs for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and NPHIC's founder.

“All of the recipients of the Berreth Awards for Excellence in Public Health Communication have been recognized by their peers as among the year’s best in public health communication,” said NPHIC President Janice Okubo, who announced the awards in Atlanta, Ga. at the NPHIC Annual Meeting this month. “Congratulations and thank you for helping NPHIC achieve our common mission to ‘make public health public’.”  

Fairfax County executed a mobile media campaign to build awareness of mosquito and tick-bite prevention among local Hispanic men who work outdoors. Two 15-second video public service announcements were created  ̶  each in Spanish  ̶  with a fight the bite prevention message.

The messaging focused on elevating the urgency and severity of illnesses caused by ticks and mosquitoes and how these illnesses can be prevented through engaging in healthy behaviors such as using repellent and dressing to protect. Additional outreach was conducted by a community health specialist who works with Hispanic communities.

“Our local outdoor workers are at greater risk for tick and mosquito bites and the diseases they carry. While we regularly conduct outreach and education to these communities, we needed to do more to ensure they receive the insect bite prevention message,” said Carla Paredes, Community Health Specialist at the Fairfax County Health Department. “Here in Fairfax County, this is a niche but substantial audience, and this highly targeted campaign helped amplify our work and expand it to more people.”  

Gold, Silver and Bronze Berreth Awards were presented in four categories: Government Health Marketing Campaign, Not-for-profit Health Marketing Campaign, Corporate Health Marketing Campaign and Real Time Risk Communication. A panel of judges from the ranks of those professionals who have achieved Certified Communicator in Public Health status evaluate the submissions for the Berreth Awards each year. 

All the award-winning entries may be viewed online at https://www.nphic.org/ba19-entrieswinners.

Pictured above: Environmental Health Supervisor Josh Smith and Community Health Specialist Carla Paredes with the Health Department pose with the 2019 Berreth Award.