Heavy
snow and bitter cold at the start of 2005 forced more than 500
families in Kabul province to leave their homes. While the Afghan
Red Crescent provided emergency shelter, in parallel, its trained
first aid volunteers distributed hygiene kits and ran hygiene
and health education sessions.
This effort was made possible by the Afghan Red Crescent’s
community-based first aid programme. Started in 1997, the programme
has seen first aid knowledge spread from villages, to districts,
to whole provinces.
Today, there is a large voluntary service that is having a real
impact on communities left vulnerable by years of conflict and
insecurity. Female first aid volunteers are making a significant
impact. They can share their knowledge with other women, bringing
important health messages on topics such as reproductive health.
At the village level, where access to health care services is
often limited, trained first aid volunteers treat basic injuries
and illnesses. An equally important role is in emphasising the
importance of prevention as well as cure.
Through health education, they are building the capacity of
families to protect themselves and their children from common
threats such as diarrhoea and malaria. The importance of mother
and child immunisation is emphasised, while mine awareness is
another important topic in a country that has been at war for
more than 24 years. HIV/AIDS awareness has also been introduced
in the last two years.
The volunteers’ role in providing health care to their
communities means that their knowledge and experience are trusted
and valued. This has been reinforced by their role at times
of disaster. Following an earthquake and partial mountain slide
in March 2003, for example, trained volunteers were on the scene
treating victims within an hour.
The Afghan Red Crescent now aims to extend the programme so
that all provinces have trained first aid volunteers, and to
build on the training of existing volunteers.
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Afghan Red Crescent provides emergency shelter, and its
trained first aid volunteers distribute hygiene kits and
run hygiene and health education sessions. (p13252)
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Afghan Red Crescent now aims to extend the programme so
that all provinces have trained first aid volunteers,
and to build on the training of existing volunteers.(p13253)
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