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Health and care
 The
International Federation’s worldwide network and volunteer
base, its public auxiliary role with national governments, and its
ability to broker partnerships provide the basis for the Red Cross
Red Crescent to have a major impact on improving the health and
care of vulnerable people in all corners of the globe.
Health and care activities in the International
Federation are diverse and include longstanding activities such
as first aid and emergency response as well as epidemic control,
programmes in health promotion and prevention, addressing stigma,
providing psychosocial care and enabling community empowerment.
National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
are increasingly seen as crucial partners in health. The enormous
value of the Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and their outreach
into the community are well recognized. National Societies are increasingly
forceful in addressing global health challenges and in meeting the
needs of the most vulnerable communities.
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World AIDS Day 2009
HIV is still a major threat to public health throughout the world despite progress made over the last two decades in many countries.
On World AIDS Day 2009, the IFRC launched a new advocacy report called “Inequalities fuelling HIV pandemic” focusing on Red Cross societies’ response in Latin America and the Caribbean. It insists on the necessity to support the most vulnerable groups to reduce HIV infection. |
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The
global health and care strategy 2006–2010
Based on the mission, vision and the global
agenda of the IFRC as well as the statements
and responsibilities outlined and adopted in the health
policy, this Global Health and Care Strategy provides six
strategic directions to integrate and scale up the health activities
at all levels of activity. Together the National Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies and their International Federation will
intensify and scale up their contribution to the health and
socio-economic development of communities. |
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Global
Agenda
Given the scale of
needs in the world, as a Federation we need to align our resources
and scale up our efforts where needs are greatest and where
the Red Cross Red Crescent can make a difference. In today’s
competitive environment, we need to show more clearly the benefits
of working as an International Federation, and how our actions
and advocacy contribute to achieving the Millennium Development
Goals and other major global efforts to reduce poverty and inequity
and promote sustainable human development. See
how the International Federation is working towards the Millennium
Development Goals through its Global Agenda. |
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UN
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
The
Millennium Declaration is the most comprehensive international
consensus ever reached on how to improve the lives of the most
vulnerable worldwide. This document examines the relation between
the activities of the International Federation and the areas
covered by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). |
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Global
Alliances
The International Federation works in global
and operational alliances to address major health problems.
These alliances allow multiple partners to share and pool
their resources to achieve results that individual partners
could not achieve alone. Examples of the International Federation’s
partnerships include: The Global Water and Sanitation, the
Measles Initiative, the Global Malaria Partnership, Stop TB,
GNP+ and the Southern Africa HIV/AIDS Consortium. |
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Red Cross Red Crescent successes in global health
In the fields of measles, water and sanitation, HIV, tuberculosis, blood, First Aid, polio, and malaria, the actions of our volunteers have contributed to measurable improvements in the lives of vulnerable populations.
Full
publication 
(1.2Mb, 28 pages) |
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Health and care programmes
Health and care activities in the International
Federation are characterized by their diversity – they
range from long standing activities such as blood banks, first
aid and emergency services to new programmes in health promotion,
addressing stigma, providing psychosocial care and enabling
community empowerment. The documents below highlight the International
Federation's work in the main areas of health and care.
Blood
| Avian
influenza | First
aid | Health
in emergencies | HIV
and AIDS | Psychosocial
support | Malaria
| Measles
and polio | Mother
and child | Tuberculosis
| Water
and sanitation |
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Health and care policies
The policies below provide detailed direction
for the International Federation's humanitarian action in
health. They serve as a point of reference to ensure consistency
in decision-making worldwide and define the boundaries for
the conduct of the Federation and the people working within
it.
Blood
services | Essential
drugs and medical supplies | First
aid | Health
| HIV
and AIDS | Psychological
support | Malaria
control | Social
welfare | Water
and sanitation |
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Joint
letter of cooperation with WHO
A joint letter of cooperation was signed
between the International Federation and World Health Organization
(WHO) on 11 May 2005. It will contribute to the establishment
of a global collaboration between National Societies and Ministries
of Health (MoH) supported by WHO. |
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