The IFRC’s Care in Communities (CIC) programme is an adaptable, evidence-based and sustainable approach to tackling global health care challenges.

It promotes a life-course approach to health that focuses on disease prevention and providing access to early diagnostics, screening, treatment and care—both at the community and home level.

Care in Communities is based on the ‘task-shifting' / 'task-sharing’ model. Task shifting is a way of reorganizing health systems to make more efficient use of limited health resources.

Where appropriate, certain tasks can be delegated to trained community health volunteers—including Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers—and other health workers. Doing so frees up highly qualified formal health workers, such as doctors, who can then focus on providing more specialized care.

The IFRC is uniquely placed to advocate for, plan and implement task shifting within community health programmes because:

• Our National Societies have access to the most isolated communities and those exposed to disaster risks
• Their auxiliary role to public authorities means they can bridge the gap between communities and formal health systems
• Our millions of volunteers can reach even the most marginalized populations and have a personal understanding of people’s needs and circumstances