03/02/2025 |

Article

Two years later, a survivor of the Türkiye-Syria earthquake is seeing a better, safer and healthier future

The devastating earthquakes that struck southern Türkiye in 2023 affected millions of lives, leaving destruction and hardship in their wake. Among the survivors is Canan, a mother of four who, along with her family, resides in a container city in Hatay.Canan’s story is one of perseverance despite physical and emotional scars. “During the earthquake, a wall collapsed on my face and back,” she recalls. “I was badly injured. That period was incredibly painful. For a while, I was bedridden. I went through long treatments. Now, I can walk without a walker”.While Canan regained her mobility after her prolonged treatment, she also lost vision in one eye due to debris falling on her face. What affected her most deeply was losing her eyelid, which left her unable to close one of her eyes.“I couldn’t bear to look in the mirror. I always felt bad seeing myself like that and didn’t want to go outside,” she said, reflecting on the emotional toll the experience took on her.Not aloneFortunately, Canan did not have to face this enormous life challenge on her own. Along the way, her psychological recovery has been supported by the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC), which provided trauma counseling for earthquake survivors. The project was done in cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which launched a global emergency appeal within days of the initital earthquakesShe also received critical help through another collaborative TRC and IFRC programme that aims to ensure the safety and protection of people who are often particularly vulnerable following a large-scale disaster – women, children, the elderly and the disabled.Those efforts include financial aid that can provide people with greater stability and independence while also helping them meet other urgent needs such as health care, access to medicine, education opportunities, legal help or psychological support.Such services greatly reduce the chances that people in vulnerable situations are further harmed, abused or exploited, and they greatly increase the chances for a full and dignified recovery.In Canan’s case, the program enabled her to access health services for physiotherapy and treatment to restore her eyelid function.Though she still cannot see from one eye, Canan feels immense relief and gratitude for the chance to regain her confidence.“They supported me a lot,” she says of the Red Crescent. “I didn't want to show my face to anyone. I even got over that. Now I am very confident. I am normal. One of my eyes is blind, but I still have many friends and loved ones.”Comfortable and confidentAnother significant impact of the earthquakes was her intense fear of entering buildings, a common reaction among survivors. "I couldn’t enter concrete buildings before. I was terrified. But after receiving weekly psychological support from the Turkish Red Crescent for several months, I began to overcome it.”Canan can now get into the buildings, even into high-rise ones.“For the first time after the earthquake, I even went to my sister’s apartment on the 12th floor. Before the psychological support, I wasn’t even going outside. Now I feel more comfortable, more confident. I feel much better," she explained.The earthquakes left millions without homes or livelihoods, and vulnerable groups have been particularly affected. For individuals like Canan, who faced both physical and psychological challenges, these support mechanisms offer a crucial lifeline, enabling survivors to regain their dignity and rebuild their lives.A better life aheadA recent survey showed that the cash assistance programme is having a concrete, measurable impact. According to the study, 88 percent of the people who participated in the project reported improved living conditions.Thefollow-up assessment of the programme, known as Post-Distribution Monitoring, reveals that 51 percent of those who took part used the provided assistance to reduce or eliminate health-related protection risks.Ninety-five percent of people also reported improved household communication and relationships, reinforcing the broader social benefits of the assistance.By Sevil ErkuşSenior Communications Officer, IFRC Türkiye Delegation

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23/12/2024 |

Article

International Day of Epidemic Preparedness 2024: Early detection, early action, healthier communities

Epidemics and pandemics are some of the biggest threats to a safe and healthy world. They are on the rise, and in today’s connected world, they are spreading further and faster than ever before.  Known epidemics—such as cholera, measles, Ebola, and malaria—continue to threaten large parts of the world’s population. And, as we saw with COVID-19, the world is also at risk from new infectious diseases that can claim millions of lives, bring health systems to their knees, and reverse decades of development progress. But the good news is that with effective preparedness and response measures, we can reduce the impacts of epidemics and pandemics and even stop them in their tracks.  The IFRC and our member National Societies have long focused on helping people prepare for, respond to, and recover from health emergencies. Born in the wake of the 1918 influenza pandemic, at the IFRC we know from experience that communities can be the first line of defence against epidemics and pandemics when equipped with the right knowledge, behaviours, skills, and tools.   Through global programmes—such as the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3) with USAID and the Programmatic Partnership with the European Union—we’ve been engaging and training people worldwide in epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response for many years. We help people prevent, detect and quickly respond to outbreaks—saving countless lives and building healthier, more resilient communities. Stepping up our efforts in 2024In 2024, the IFRC significantly stepped up our work in epidemic and pandemic preparedness:With support from the World Bank’s Pandemic Fund, and in collaboration with key national and international partners, IFRC was selected to launch two new regional epidemic preparedness programmes. In Africa, the Preparedness for Pandemic Response (PREPARE) programme will strengthen cross-border collaboration, disease surveillance and health systems in East and Central Africa to address health challenges such as the ongoing mpox epidemic. And in Asia Pacific, the Enhancing collaborative surveillance and diagnostic readiness for pandemic preparedness and response in South-East Asia Region will improve early warning and disease surveillance systems, laboratory systems and community health workforce capacity across eight countries.With USAID support, we were delighted to expand the CP3 programme this year into 11 new countries—Burundi, Cambodia, Ivory Coast, Laos, Malawi, Malaysia, Philippines, Tajikistan, Thailand, Vietnam and Zambia—to prepare even more communities for epidemics and pandemics.Together, these new commitments take the total number of countries where IFRC is directly supporting epidemic preparedness programmes up to 48. This figure doesn’t include the great work being done at the national level by many more Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world.Trusted, local, and always thereAs trusted local actors embedded in their communities and permanently present in areas other organizations cannot reach, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are best placed to support community-level epidemic and pandemic preparedness. The IFRC works to strengthen National Societies’ ability to prepare for and respond to epidemics through training, technical assistance, advocacy support and coordination. Together, we also engage a wide range of stakeholders in epidemic and pandemic preparedness—such as governments, religious leaders, businesses and the media—because we know that all parts of society need to come together to keep people safe from epidemics and pandemics. The time to prepare is nowCOVID-19 was a wake-up call to the world to prepare now for the next health crisis. The pandemic claimed millions of lives and revealed major gaps in epidemic and pandemic preparedness around the world.The IFRC network is doing essential work right now to prepare communities for the next pandemic. But more investment is needed globally to strengthen health systems and ensure societies are prepared for an increasingly hazardous world.--To stay up to date with the IFRC’s work in epidemic and pandemic preparedness, sign up to our monthly newsletter which features highlights from Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world.And for practical epidemic preparedness resources, check out our Epidemic Control Toolkit—available in multiple languages—for guidance on evidence-based methods to prevent and control the spread of epidemics at the community-level.

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23/12/2024 |

Article

Red Cross responds to the largest dengue outbreak in Central America with education and prevention

Dengue has been a major public health threat in Latin America for decades, with epidemics occurring cyclically every three to five years. Transmitted by female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the virus affects millions of people every year, but never more than now.So far this year,more than 12.7 million suspected cases of dengue were reported in the Region of the Americas, a record number in the history of the disease.In Central America and Mexico, more than 17,000 new suspected cases of dengue were reported in the last week of November alone. This equates to 100 cases every hour, a 198 per cent increase over the average over the past five years.This increase in the spread of dengue poses a challenge to health systems in a region facing complex climatic and health conditions.The effects of the climate crisis, extreme temperatures and more intense weather events – such as hurricanes Eta and Iota in 2020, the historic heat waves earlier this year, or the recent tropical storm Sara – are changing the habits of thousands of Central American families living in conditions of risk and vulnerability.Growing poverty and inequality, coupled with insufficient and inadequate water and sanitation services, are forcing people to store what little water they have access to. Water is often stored improperly, due to a lack of information or the lack of adequate means to store it safely.This and other practices, such as poor solid waste management, can facilitate the creation of mosquito breeding sites in items such as uncovered water containers, tires, flowerpots, piles and gutters.Amid this multi-factorial challenge, National Red Cross Societies from around the Central American region have engaged in a comprehensive response, which encompasses a variety of strategies focused on prevention and education.During 2023 and 2024, local Red Cross teams have implemented six dengue response operations in Central America, with support from the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF).This year, dengue response efforts have also been carried out in operations in response to a hospital fire in Roatan, Honduras, and flooding in June in El Salvador.Thanks to these eight IFRC-DREF operations, National Societies in the region will be able to reach more than 182,000 people in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama with response actions, but also with prevention for future outbreaks.Community-based preventionOne of the Red Cross' main initiatives has been to raise community awareness of the dangers of dengue and the importance of eliminating mosquito breeding sites.Volunteers work directly in communities, in coordination with health authorities, to carry out community-based prevention and vector control activities.The main activities include educational talks, identification and elimination of mosquito breeding sites, application of larvicide in stacks and water containers, fumigation and cleaning campaigns, and home visits.These activities teach people how to avoid stagnant water, where mosquitoes prefer to lay their eggs, and promote practical and effective measures such as turning over containers and regularly cleaning drainage systems.The response also includes the distribution of safe water storage containers and household cleaning kits, as well as water filters, repellents and mosquito nets for groups at risk, such as pregnant women, children under five, the elderly, and people with disabilities and/or reduced mobility.Strong and prepared communitiesThe Red Cross has a long-term focus on training local staff to strengthen community capacity to fight dengue.Through workshops and training sessions, volunteers learn how to recognize the symptoms of dengue, how to effectively prevent outbreaks and how to implement sustainable mosquito control programs.Volunteers have also helped to establish and train community health committees to promote epidemiological surveillance at the community level.In several locations, local health workers are also being trained in the clinical management of dengue patients, especially in areas where health infrastructure is limited.Through its comprehensive approach to education and prevention, the Red Cross has played a key role in the fight against dengue in Central America, a region highly vulnerable due to climatic, social and health factors.The actions carried out by volunteers and trained staff have not only allowed the response to emergencies, but also to prepare communities for future outbreaks.From eliminating breeding sites and distributing supplies to training in clinical management and sustainable vector control strategies, these interventions have built community resilience. In some places, the actions of the National Red Cross Societies in support of the health ministries in the region have led to reductions in dengue cases.In Panama, for example, there has been a reduction in dengue cases in recent weeks, which could be linked to the efforts of several actors, including the Ministry of Health, the Panamanian Red Cross, other international agencies and the communities themselves.Some small communities have also provided anecdotal accounts that suggest the dengue education and eradication efforts are making a difference.Despite the progress, dengue remains a challenge, underscoring the importance of continuing to adapt our response strategies to the climatic and social changes affecting public health in the region.

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17/12/2024 |

Article

Reach Initiative: How a simple act can have a revolutionary impact on family health

Every morning, Aisha sets out on foot to fetch water from the river, carrying heavy buckets back home, knowing each drop is precious. Aisha’s life revolves around caring for her three young children, but despite her best efforts to provide for her family, illness has seemed unavoidable.Her youngest, Musa, has often suffered from painful stomach troubles. Frequent trips to the clinic were becoming a strain on her family. Like many in her village, Aisha had always believed that sickness was just a part of life—something they would have to endure.Things began to change when volunteers for the Nigerian Red Cross arrived in her village. They came as part of the Resilient and Empowered African Community Health (REACH) initiative, a program of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cresent Societies (IFRC) and the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC) to improve health and hygiene practices in underserved communities.The volunteers and villagers gathered under the shade of a large tree, and with warmth and patience, the volunteers explained how regular handwashing with soap and water can, in fact, save lives.Aisha and her neighbours listened intently as the volunteers explained how washing hands with soap, especially before eating and after using the bathroom, could prevent diseases like cholera and diarrhoea.For many in the crowd, this was a revelation. In many villages here, soap is a rare luxury, often reserved for laundry or bathing, and few had ever thought to use it to wash their hands. The volunteers demonstrated proper hand-washing technique, showing the community members how to scrub their hands thoroughly, reaching every nook and cranny to remove invisible germs.Intrigued, Aisha decided to try it. She set up a simple handwashing station outside her home, using a jerrycan, a small bar of soap, and some rope to make the process easier. She taught her children the new routine, and they watched, wide-eyed, as she explained that this small act could keep them safe.Over the following weeks, something extraordinary happened. Musa, who had been frequently ill, stayed healthy. The constant worries about stomach aches and fevers lessened, and Aisha realized that this small change had a profound effect on her family.It wasn’t long before her neighbours started noticing, too. One by one, other families in the village began setting up their handwashing stations. For the first time, the community was discovering a sense of control over their health.The impact was visible. Children attended school more regularly, free from the recurring ailments that had once disrupted their studies. Parents had fewer trips to the clinic, easing both their schedules and financial strain. Aisha became a quiet champion of the handwashing movement, proudly showing others her setup and sharing the knowledge she had gained.Through the REACH initiative, Nigerian Red Cross Society volunteers (NRCS) have been going door-to-door, gathering people in small groups in villages, schools, and marketplaces, teaching them about handwashing and hygiene.Halima, a mother of four, reflects on the change in her household: “My children used to be sick all the time—coughs, stomach pain. Since we started washing our hands, they’ve been healthier. Now, it’s the first thing we do when we come back from the market or the farm.”For young Sani, a student, it’s a new habit he’s eager to share. “At school, they taught us how to wash our hands properly. I showed my family, and now we all do it. I feel proud because I know I’m helping to keep them safe.”Lilian Adeogba, IFRC Program Officer for the Reach Initiative, notes that while handwashing may seem simple, it is a powerful tool in the fight against infectious diseases. “Diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, and respiratory infections spread quickly, and without proper hygiene, families, especially young children, fall ill often," she say."In a place like Adamawa, where healthcare resources are limited, teaching people to wash their hands is not just about cleanliness—it’s about saving lives.”

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11/12/2024 |

Article

Mpox in DRC: How being prepared for epidemics leads to a more effective response

“The first symptom was fever. The next day, I noticed the appearance of spots. They burned like a rash. They spread everywhere on my body. I thought: what kind of disease is this?”Basele from Mbandaka, Équateur province is one of more than 8000 people confirmed to have caught mpox in DRC this year amid an alarming surge in cases. Fortunately, Basele was quickly pointed in the right direction by the DRC Red Cross to get the support she needed to recover and limit the spread of infection.“The Red Cross volunteers came to my home. They told me that the disease was contagious, that if someone in my family gets sick we can all become infected in our house. So we have to get off our feet and go to the hospital when the illness starts,” explains Basele.Mpox is the latest in a long line of epidemics to hit DRC, with the country suffering from recurrent outbreaks of cholera, Ebola and measles—among other diseases—in recent years.The DRC Red Cross has learned many lessons from responding to these health crises. And through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3), with funding from USAID and technical support from IFRC, the National Society has done lots of work in recent years to prepare its volunteers, communities and partners to leap into action against mpox.Early detection, early action, healthier communitiesThrough the CP3 programme, more than 300 Red Cross volunteers in Équateur had already been trained in epidemic control and community-based surveillance (CBS)—gaining the knowledge, skills and tools needed to be able to rapidly detect and report potential mpox cases. Since the escalation of the epidemic, this training has been expanded and delivered to a further 700+ volunteers in the province.Together, these volunteers play a vital role in their communities finding people showing mpox symptoms, alerting local health authorities through a CBS system, and encouraging people to seek help at mpox treatment centres.“With regard to CP3, we work in close collaboration with Red Cross volunteers. They go out into the community, they look for sick people, they bring them to the health centre... we take care of them here at our mpox site,” explains Monique Itala Mulo, Head Nurse at Mama Elikya Referral Health Centre in Mbandaka.By quickly finding and reporting suspected mpox cases, and encouraging people to seek treatment, the risk of the disease spreading is reduced. The National Society and local health authorities also use the data collected through CBS to inform their response activities.Trust built over time enables wide reach and accessAs members of the communities they serve, DRC Red Cross volunteers are known and trusted by the local population in Équateur and benefit from wide reach and access. Before the current surge in mpox cases, volunteers were already reaching far and wide into communities to raise awareness about the disease and tell people to stay safe.“We go door-to-door to speak to people in their homes. We go to schools, we go to churches, we go to hot spots—markets, ports, entry points, checkpoints—any places where we can interact with the community. The community is starting to raise [mpox] alerts themselves. In other words, the impact is already positive,” says Dr Leblanc Monzeba, Head of Health Division in the Équateur branch of DRC Red Cross.Having already established deep and trusting relationships with communities, volunteers are able to effectively challenge mpox stigma and rumours that may prevent people from seeking help and convince people to adopt healthy behaviours, such as following good hygiene practices.According to Dr Leblanc, one particularly notable area of behaviour change observed is within the traditional healer community.“We held advocacy sessions with traditional healers to explain the importance of notifiying health authorities of people showing signs of mpox. Previously, the traditional healers would keep the patient at home. But now they are starting to pass on information, and when they see patients who present signs of mpox, they send them directly to the nearest health centre,” he explains.Strong partnerships lay the foundation for effective responseBefore the current surge in mpox cases, the DRC Red Cross had already established strong working relationships with government authorities and various stakeholders to prepare for epidemics and pandemics.“The Red Cross is our go-to partner during epidemics, just as we work together outside of an epidemic. We always collaborate,” says Dr Elaba Bibiche, Head Doctor in Mbandaka Health Zone.Thanks to its prior preparation and auxiliary role to health authorities, DRC Red Cross has been able to fit seamlessly into the government’s mpox response plan and intervene in clearly defined areas.Pre-existing relationships with various media outlets are also enabling DRC Red Cross to reach tens of thousands of people across the province with lifesaving health information."I've been partnering with the Red Cross for six years. We have a really good working relationship. They were the first organisation to start raising community awareness about mpox. We do programmes with their staff and volunteers, phone-in shows where people call in to ask questions about mpox and get the answers they need,” explains Trésor Ikonda, Director General at Radio Evangile Eternel in Équateur.As the response to mpox continues, and though significant challenges remain, DRC Red Cross staff and volunteers feel positive that their preparedness efforts are paying off as they strive to reduce the impact of the epidemic on communities.“The DRC Red Cross branch in Équateur has the capacity to manage epidemics thanks to the IFRC. Since 2018, we have faced a series of large epidemics in Équateur. It’s from the experience of managing other epidemics and from implementing the CP3 programme—which meant that we already had trained volunteers on the ground working in the different health zones—that we had the capacity to respond to mpox,” explains Colomban Mampunya, DRC Red Cross Équateur Branch President.--The activities featured in this article are part of the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3).  Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), CP3 supports communities, National Societies and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats.USAID’s Bureau of Global Health has also provided additional support to IFRC and DRC Red Cross for mpox response activities.If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more, sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter or visit the DRC Red Cross website.

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05/12/2024 |

Press release

As many as seven in ten migrants in the Americas require comprehensive healthcare

Panama City/Geneva, 3 December -As migration in Latin America continues to surge, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is warning of the pressing health needs of vulnerable migrant populations, particularly women, children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities. According to the IFRC study presented today, “Migration and Health in the Americas: needs and services assessment”, these groups face growing barriers to access health services and suffer a lack of comprehensive health care in transit and destination countries.The study compiles data from 2021 to 2023 and explores the nutritional status, rates of vaccination, rates of chronic and infectious disease, mental health, and health-seeking behavior of migrants by age group. One of the main findings is that insufficient health services and barriers to access them are putting lives at risk, exacerbating health inequalities, and placing immense strain on already fragile national health systems.“Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, and the barriers faced by migrants -whether due to their irregular status, lack of documentation, or fear of deportation - must be dismantled. It is essential to provide comprehensive healthcare that meets the diverse needs of migrant populations, from basic medical care to specialized treatments for chronic conditions, mental health support, and disability services,” said Pedro Porrino, IFRC’s Health in Emergencies Coordinator for the Americas.Regardless of age, healthcare remains a critical issue for migrants in both transit and destination countries. Among in-transit migrants, some 60 to 70% require healthcare, with general medical services being the most needed. Sexual and reproductive healthcare is also a high priority, with over 40% of migrants expressing a need for these services. Migrants in destination countries face similar challenges, with up to 74% requiring healthcare services, including maternal and pediatric care, chronic disease management, mental health services, and specialized care.These findings are confirmed by Red Cross teams on the ground in 22 countries in the Americas. In Panama, Red Cross humanitarian service points have provided nearly 750,000 services in the last six years, most of them to migrants in need of first aid, general medicine, mental health support, access to clean water, vaccines and sexual and reproductive healthcare.In Ecuador, El Salvador and Guatemala, Red Cross volunteers have provided humanitarian assistance, mainly primary healthcare (the first point of contact with a healthcare system), to nearly 200 migrants per day in the last two years, with a total of 143,438 people assisted. In Argentina, Honduras and on the southern border of Mexico, Red Cross teams provided medical care to over 6500 migrants in the first six months of this year alone.“Addressing the health needs of migrants should be a priority and recognizing the role of local Red Cross teams in providing them with care, relief and dignity is an opportunity for governments and donors to guarantee migrants' right to health. By partnering with the Red Cross, countries can not only facilitate humanitarian assistance, but also alleviate pressure on their public health systems,” said Martha Keays, IFRC Regional Director for the Americas.IFRC humanitarian service points will continue to provide humanitarian assistance in countries of origin, transit and destination in the coming months, as the number of people heading north is expected to remain one of the continent's biggest and most under-resourced humanitarian challenges.Notes for editorsAccording to an IFRC study, funded by the Norwegian Red Cross, the following are the main health needs of migrants by age group:Health Needs of Children and AdolescentsAmong the most vulnerable are migrant children, who are disproportionately affected by nutritional deficiencies, with chronic malnutrition rates categorized as moderate to high. Malnutrition leaves these young migrants more susceptible to long-term health complications, yet interventions remain inadequate. While some receive nutritional assessments, deworming medication, or micronutrients, more comprehensive treatments, such as management of acute malnutrition, are rarely provided.The mental health of children and adolescents in migrant communities is also of concern. While the prevalence of anxiety and depression in children has not been fully documented, the mental health needs of this group are often unmet, leaving them vulnerable to long-term psychological trauma from the migration process.Health Needs of Women and Pregnant MigrantsThe rate of maternal mortality among migrant women is two times the national average in countries like Colombia and Brazil. In Colombia alone, 73 extreme cases of maternal morbidity are reported each week among the migrant population. Additionally, obstetric violence has been documented in several countries, further complicating the already precarious healthcare situation for migrant women.The nutritional status of many pregnant migrants is also of major concern. One third suffer from moderate or severe anemia, leaving them and their children vulnerable to long-term health complications, increasing their susceptibility to acute and chronic diseases.Sexual and reproductive health is a critical issue for migrant women. Alarmingly, underage girls account for one in ten pregnancies among Venezuelan migrant women, highlighting a major public health concern. Many women also report that their pregnancies are unwanted—two-thirds of pregnant migrant women in Brazil, for example, did not intend to become pregnant. Furthermore, sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, affect migrant women at twice the rate of the general population, with only 38% and 50% receiving treatment in Colombia and Peru, respectively.Health Needs of Older Migrants and People with DisabilitiesBetween 62-78% of Venezuelan migrants aged 60 and above have chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. However, only 22-39% of older migrants receive consistent treatment for their conditions.Mental health challenges are prevalent among this group, with up to 56% suffering from moderate to severe anxiety and depression. However, mental health services are lacking, leaving many of them to endure their struggles alone. They are also at increased risk of violence, particularly during transit; and many are also living with disabilities—up to 66%.Migrants with disabilities face unique challenges that are often neglected in humanitarian response. Despite the high prevalence of disability among elderly migrants and a smaller yet significant proportion of adults, there are few, if any, interventions designed to meet their needs.For more information and to set up an interview, please contact: [email protected] Panama - Susana Arroyo Barrantes +50769993199In Geneva – Tommaso Della Longa +41797084367 Hannah Copeland +41762369109

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22/11/2024 |

Article

IFRC at COP29: Invest when and where it matters most – early on, in the health of people hardest hit

Extreme heat and prolonged heatwaves.Unprecedented floods and storms in every corner of the globe.Dry spells and storms that defy precedent.These are some of the ways climate change is having profound and sometimes devastating impacts on the health of people and communities around the world. As world leaders met at the COP29 climate summit being in Baku, Azerbaijan (11-22 November), IFRC is once again spotlighting what it sees every day through its emergency responses to sudden floods, extreme heatwaves, prolonged drought, economic crisis and hunger.Not only are people dying, losing homes and livelihoods, the climate crisis is having long-lasting impacts on people’s health and well-being. Extreme heatwaves, floods and storms are putting more and more people at risk of infectious diseases and malnutrition while reducing their access to care.“The impacts of the climate crisis are having a massive effect on people’s health,”IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagainsaid during the first day of the COP29 Conference. “So we must address the health impacts in a very comprehensive way.”Equally important is how and when those issues are addressed, he adds. Financing and investment on community health and preparedness must not only be increased, they must be directed to local communities where it is needed most.“The investment has to be at the right level and they must reach the right place,”Chapagain said. “At the moment, there is not enough investment and that investment is not reaching the community level. Less than ten percent of climate financing reaches the community level.“We need to be supporting community action on the ground, where people are living and facing the consequences every day.”That investment cannot wait until after disaster strikes. “How and when do you make that investment is also important,”he added. “If you make the investment early – with early warning systems oranticaptory actions -- it saves lives, livelihoods and dollars.”A burning issueCase in point is the growing threat of extreme heat. In recent years, global temperature records are being broken month after month, as climate change makes heatwaves – an already silent and deadly killer – more extreme. Every year, heat kills almost half a million people worldwide.Yet only 0.5 percent of multilateral climate adaptation finance goes to health measures that could drastically reduce that number. Such health measures could also improve people’s well-being and save money in the long run. By 2030, experts predict between USD two to four billion in additional health costs will be incurred if adaptation action is not taken now.Solutions involve a range of actions, from buildingclimate-resilient cities and health systems, to developing national heat-action plans andearly-warning early-action protocols. Other actions would ensure that social protection and health systems are responsive to climate-related shocks, while nature-based solutions could harness the natural protective power of ecosystems to shield communities from extreme heat or storm surges.“As climate impacts intensify, health systems must adapt to protect the most vulnerable,” said Petra Khoury, Director of IFRC’s Health and Care Department, speaking at a special COP29 event organized by the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH), a programme hosted by WHO.“The IFRC network is on the frontlines, building climate-resilient health systems through community mobilization,” she said. "Solutions addressing the triple nexus of health, climate and migration should be community centered.“Bringing both host and displaced communities in the decision-making process and solutions is key to mitigating the impact of this nexus.”Among other things, the IFRC is working to scale up community level surveillance of climate–related diseases, deepen its existing community engagement efforts and broaden the scope of its work though a 'one health' approach.The ‘one health’ approach is a moreholistic way of improving human health by looking at the health of the environment in which people are living. For example, if livestock are rendered vulnerable to illness by heat, lack of food or water, that has a knock-on effect on human health. Up to 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases that affect human beings start in animals.The IFRC is also heavily involved in street-by-street, house-by-house surveillance around diseases such as dengue, malaria and cholera, and many others, but climate change demands greater efforts in community engagement around disease tracking, prevention and response.To do all this, investments must be made at all levels – from national government budgets but also from multilateral development banks, multilateral climate funds, health financing institutions, bilateral development agencies, and private-sector actors.Putting this into action also means integrating health and heat action as part of a holistic approach to adaptation action in national climate plans, as well as enhancing coordination across government with local authorities, actors and communities.There have already been signs of progress. At COP28, the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience strengthened adaptation action while 151 countries signed the first-ever COP Climate and Health Declaration. And there is mounting awareness about the urgency of addressing the health impacts of heatwaves. IFRC continued to sound the alarm hosting the first Global Summit on Extreme Heat with our annual Heat Action Day on 2 June.Recent severe hurricanes – sometimes referred to as ‘monster storms’ – along with a spate of severe flooding in large parts ofEurope,Western and Central Africa, theAmericas andSoutheast Asia and Oceana are also showcasing the urgent need for this kind of local investment.These floods are displacing millions of people, leaving them without access to safe water and sanitation. Often the communities hit hardest also already are coping with limited access to safe water, sanitation, nutrition, healthcare and education.Whether COP29 is ultimately judged a success will depend on whether commitments are made toward reversing these realities with real investments in health, preparedness and early warning that reach the local level. “These are the three key areas – health, investment and timing – if we can make progress on these areas at COP29, I would see this as a success,” Chapagain concluded.More information:IFRC’s approach to health and careIFRC’s approach to the climate crisisWorld Meteorological Organization Early Warnings for All InitiativeIFRC Early Warnings for All page

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19/11/2024 |

Article

World Toilet Day 2024: Everyone, everywhere deserves access to a toilet they can use safely and with dignity

In 2024, 3.5 billion people still live without access to safely managed sanitation. That's nearly half of humanity lacking one of the most basic human needs – a safe and private toilet. Even more concerning, an estimated 419 million people still practise open defecation, which not only increases the risk of infectious diseases, but also puts people—particularly women and girls—in unsafe and vulnerable situations.For the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, ensuring access to safe and dignified sanitation is not just about building toilets – it's about understanding and addressing the diverse water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs of all community members."Equitable access to WASH services and facilities is a human right," says Alexandra Machado, IFRC Senior Officer for WASH in Public Health. "Water, sanitation and hygiene are fundamental for life, and for the dignity, health and wellbeing of everyone -- regardless of their age, disability, social status, gender identity, ethnicity or sexual orientation."Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide are working to ensure that sanitation facilities are accessible, safe, and appropriate for everyone. On World Toilet Day, let’s look at a couple of examples.Making a Difference: Community-led sanitation in remote, underserved areas in ColombiaThe Colombian Red Cross has been active in promoting community-led sanitation improvements, particularly in remote and underserved areas including Tumaco, Buenaventura, Condoto, and Timbiqui. These projects included installing and upgrading sanitation units in schools, homes, and community centres, directly benefiting children and families in both urban and rural areas.Through workshops and hygiene campaigns, they’ve engaged community members to build and maintain latrines, which has significantly reduced the risk of water and sanitation related diseases. This effort is a collaborative approach that involves both local authorities and community representatives, enhancing ownership and sustainability.For example, in Santa Rita primary school, upgrades to the sanitation facilities now serve 140 students, fostering better hygiene at school which can be a catalyst for change in the wider community.Kenya: ‘Together we can end open defecation’Across Kenya, the Kenya Red Cross is supporting communities to adopt healthy WASH behaviours—including the building and using of latrines—to improve their hygiene and reduce their risks of infectious diseases.Through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3), Red Cross teams are partnering with the Kenyan government and WASH charities, such as Dig Deep, in a bid to end open defecation. Trained Red Cross volunteers regularly go out into their communities and educate people on why they should use latrines, how they can build their own simple pit latrines in their homes, and the importance of handwashing and other related hygiene practices to stay healthy.Volunteers’ consistent engagement is already starting to pay off, with widespread uptake of latrines and positive WASH behaviour change observed within many communities covered by CP3.“We used to have diarrheal diseases every now and then. And even we had cholera, which is fecal related. But when CP3 was introduced by the Red Cross, it has really assisted us in health education and even in tackling those diseases,” explains Lucina Bett, Sub-County Public Health Officer in Bomet County, Kenya.Find out more in this new video:The IFRC’s approach to WASHSuccessful WASH programmes are participatory and community-led. Our approach focuses on four key principles: dignity, access, participation, and safety. This means ensuring that:Everyone has access to sanitation facilities they can use with dignityFacilities are designed and built so that all people can use themCommunities are actively involved in decisions about their sanitation facilitiesPeople feel safe and comfortable using toilets, day and night"Vulnerability to violence is increased by a lack of safe and secure sanitation infrastructure," explains Peter Mamburi, IFRC Regional WASH Coordinator for Africa. “That's why our National Societies work closely with communities to ensure facilities are well-lit, private, and located in safe areas.”On World Toilet Day, we renew our commitment to leaving no one behind in sanitation. Because everyone, everywhere deserves access to a toilet they can use safely and with dignity.--Want to learn more about the IFRC’s work in water, sanitation and hygiene? Visit https://wash.ifrc.org or contact [email protected]

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15/11/2024 |

Article

Burkina Faso: When insecurity, conflict and other challenges get between people and the healthcare, the REACH Initiative connects people with the care they need

In Burkina Faso, healthcare challenges have worsened since 2019 due to the escalating security crisis driven by fighting between armed groups and the state military. Many communities face significant barriers to accessing medical care, with long distances to health centers, a shortage of trained healthcare workers, and limited resources. For families in rural areas, even basic services can seem out of reach.Pregnant women often struggle to get to a clinic, especially at night, and diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and malnutrition take a heavy toll. This fragile healthcare system is further strained during emergencies, making every day struggles even more daunting. For years, this harsh reality has taken a toll on families, with women and children bearing the brunt of these healthcare gaps."Healthcare here has long been a privilege of the few, rather than a right for all," says Dr. Diao Watton Rodrigue, an epidemiologist with the Ministry of Health. "When children die from preventable diseases like malaria, it’s not because the medication don’t exist, it’s because they often don’t reach the people who need them most."The Africa-wide REACH Initiative seeks to change that by transforming the way healthcare is delivered. Short for “Resilient and Empowered African Health Community,” REACH is led by the IFRC, along with the Africa CDC, and Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies in their respective countries (in this case, the Burkina Faso Red Cross).In partnership with the Ministry of Health, the REACH Initiative in Burkina Faso is supporting the development of a national health safety plan to guide healthcare reforms over the next four years. It has also supported the development of the country’s first action plan for non-communicable diseases, vaccination campaigns, and improved health surveillance.The Burkina Faso Red Cross, meanwhile, plays a critical role in transforming healthcare access, serving as a bridge between underserved communities and essential health services. By leading efforts to bring care directly to those who lack access— often in remote or marginalized areas—they ensure that life-saving support reaches those who need it most, fostering trust and resilience within communities. Through this partnership, Burkina Faso is becoming better equipped to tackle future health challenges while building healthier, stronger communities.‘They turn to us’One recent example of REACH's impact was during a dengue fever outbreak at the beginning of 2024. With health workers stretched thin, the Burkina Faso Red Cross stepped in, mobilizing volunteers to target mosquito breeding sites and disinfect high-risk areas.Led by 90 trained volunteers, an awareness campaign reached over 123,000 people, spreading life-saving information on dengue prevention. These swift actions not only controlled the outbreak but also strengthened the community’s preparedness for future crises.As an example, consider the story of Nakanabo Ismael, a Red Cross volunteer trained through the REACH Initiative."At night, when someone is sick, they turn to us,” Nakanabo says. “The community trusts us—they bring their babies for us to treat.We might not have all the answers, but we’ve been trained to help."Nakanabo’s dedication, along with the support of REACH, has brought hope to communities where healthcare once seemed out of reach.Across Africa, REACH continues to strengthen health systems, scale up the community health workforce, and empower local volunteers. By addressing critical health challenges, training volunteers on the ground to shaping national health policies, REACH is helping to create a future where healthcare is accessible, equitable, and sustainable for all Africans.

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05/11/2024 |

Press release

IFRC launches Emergency Appeal to address immense humanitarian impact of hostilities in Lebanon

Geneva/Beirut, 5 November 2024: In the wake of the dramatic escalation of hostilities in Lebanon in September, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has today launched a Federation-wideEmergency Appealfor 100 million Swiss Francs.The ‘Lebanon: Complex Emergency Appeal’ aims to provide immediate and long-term relief to around 600,000 people affected by the conflict there and to support the critical ambulance services of the Lebanese Red Cross, whose volunteers have been on high alert since October last year.From the outset of escalations, the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) mobilised its staff and volunteers and activated contingency plans to address the ongoing crisis, with support from the IFRC, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners.The severe escalation of hostilities has led to widespread destruction and mass displacement in Lebanon, exacerbating an already dire socio-economic situation, and necessitating a new appeal to address the rapidly evolving humanitarian situation there more effectively.With winter approaching and many people now homeless or living in overcrowded conditions without proper heating, theLRC is crucial to the humanitarian response, providing essential relief including food, water, first aid, ambulance services, primary healthcare, hygiene kits and psychosocial support."We are seeing a huge need for basic goods to help the hundreds of thousands of people who have fled their homes. Many are now staying with family members or living in temporary shelters, such as schools,"said Lotte Ruppert, Operations Manager for the IFRC in Beirut."Going back to their houses is not an option at this moment, as the conflict areas are still very dangerous. On top of that, we are concerned for the safety of all health workers, including LRC volunteers, especially in the south of Lebanon.”On a visit to Beirut to launch the appeal and meet with the LRC, Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the IFRC, said,“Humanitarian needs in Lebanon are growing by the day. The funds raised in this appeal will allow the Lebanese Red Cross to sustain their life saving programmes and to reach far more people with far more positive impact. The needs are immense. I urge potential donors to do what they can to help contribute.”As the country faces one of its worst humanitarian crises in decades, the launch of this new Emergency Appeal will ensure a robust IFRC-wide response to the current crisis in Lebanon, while also addressing the longer-term consequences through recovery efforts.In parallel, the Middle East Complex Emergency Crisis Appeal will remain active until December 2025, covering the Red Cross Red Crescent response across the region. From November 2024, contributions to support the response efforts in Lebanon should be directed through this new Lebanon Complex Emergency Appeal. For more information, please contact:[email protected] Geneva:Tommaso Della Longa, +41 79708 4367Hannah Copeland+41 76 236 9109In Beirut:Mey Al Sayegh, +961 7617 4468Bastiaan van Blokland, +31 6 46 80 80 96

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05/11/2024 |

Emergency

Lebanon: Complex Emergency

Lebanon’s southern border has been the scene of continued conflict since 8 October 2023, with a massive increase in airstrikes and attacks, leading to over 2,710 deaths and 12,592 injuries as of 28 October 2024. Through this emergency appeal, the IFRC and its membership aim to address the urgent needs of 600,000 people by providing interventions involving healthcare, food security and shelter, as well as support with water, sanitation and hygiene. This appeal will also help scale up the search and rescue capacity of the Lebanese Red Cross.

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31/10/2024 |

Article

One Health Day 2024: Protecting humans, animals and the environment for a healthier world for all

Up to 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases that affect human beings start in animals. These are called ‘zoonotic’ diseases, and they can spread to humans through direct contact with infected animals or through food, water or the environment. Recent high-profile diseases that have spread from animals to humans include COVID-19, Ebola and mpox.And when our environment is polluted or not looked after properly, it can cause health problems in both animals and humans. For example, there is evidence that global warming is leading to more favourable conditions for a specific type of mosquito which carries the dengue virus to reproduce and thrive, and is even pushing them to new areas and countries that have never experienced dengue before.Taking a ‘One Health’ approachOne Health is an approach to health care that recognizes these close links between human, animal and environmental health, and considers how they affect one another.It involves governments and organizations working in these different areas coming together to better prepare for and respond to health challenges, such as epidemics and pandemics.Through the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3), many Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are taking a One Health approach to help communities prepare for, prevent and respond to disease outbreaks. And they’re supporting government health, agriculture and environmental departments—as well as key partners—to collaborate using a One Health approach, too.Let’s take a look at some examples.Training DRC’s next generation of nurses to be on the lookout for zoonotic diseasesIn the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the DRC Red Cross runs nursing schools across the country whose students go on to work in both the country’s public and private health system. Through the CP3 programme, the DRC Red Cross developed a special One Health learning module, which they piloted in two schools in Kinshasa and Maluku.Final year nursing students who took part in the pilot learned all about the intersection of human-animal-environmental health. They learned case definitions for different types of zoonotic diseases—from rabies to chikungunya—and how to effectively engage their communities on the risks and prevention measures for each disease. And they learned the principles of community-based surveillance (CBS), enabling them to quickly sound the alarm when unusual health events occur.The DRC government was so impressed with the pilot, they intend to roll the training out nationally to every nursing school in the country, believing that the sooner nurses learn about One Health and how to work effectively with animal and environmental counterparts, the better for the country’s health security.Knowledge is power: raising community awareness of environmental and animal health risksThere are lots of simple steps communities can take to reduce disease risks linked to animals and the environment. Through the CP3 programme, National Societies are engaging and motivating communities to take action.For example, in Kenya, Red Cross volunteers are teaching people how to recognize the signs of anthrax—a serious and potentially deadly infectious disease that can spread from animals, usually livestock, to humans. They’re encouraging communities to avoid handling any animals that die in unusual circumstances, report any cases immediately to volunteers or animal health authorities, and thoroughly disinfect contaminated areas. They’re also supporting vaccination efforts to make sure people know when, where and why to vaccinate their animals—making breakthroughs even within remote and vaccine-hesitant communities.And in Indonesia, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) runs regular clean-up events to help communities reduce the risks of dengue in their local environment. People come together to inspect and drain stagnant water reservoirs, properly cover and seal drinking water supplies, and sweep up litter and debris. These steps all minimize potential mosquito breeding sites. Teamed with personal protective measures, such as wearing mosquito repellent and using bed nets, these simple steps can greatly decrease the risk of catching dengue fever, and help families stay healthy.Bringing the government together for One Health action in GuineaThrough the CP3 programme, the Guinea Red Cross has been supporting the government at the national, regional and community level to adopt a One Health approach in order to strengthen the country’s health system.They’ve been facilitating regular meetings with government agencies and stakeholders working in human, animal and environmental health to discuss existing and emerging disease threats, plan vaccination campaigns for both human and animal populations, and collaborate on environmental management. For priority zoonotic diseases, such as rabies in particular, the Guinea Red Cross has been instrumental in informing and protecting communities, and rapidly alerting human and animal health authorities when a bite incident occurs.These are just a few of the many examples of how taking a One Health approach can lead to a healthier world. By working together to keep animals and our shared environment healthy, we can help humans to be healthier and safer, too.---The activities featured in this article are part of the multi-country Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3).  Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), CP3 has supported communities, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other partners in seven countries since 2018 to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats. In October 2024, the programme is expanding to six new countries—Burundi, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Tajikistan, Thailand and Zambia—where it will continue to implement a One Health approach among National Societies, partners and governments.If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more, sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter 

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30/10/2024 |

Article

Burundi Red Cross Volunteers: ‘Every day and everywhere’ for the community, responding to Mpox and beyond

In Bujumbura, the former capital of Burundi, the local branch has more than 26,000 volunteers. When the mpox outbreak was reported in the province, Burundi Red Cross volunteers stepped up to ensure that the spread of the disease would be contained and that anyone with symptoms would seek the necessary medical treatment.Volunteers have a lot of experience in sharing health information in the communities, as they were active during the COVID-19 pandemic and previous disease outbreaks. Volunteers work shifts to inform as many people as possible about mpox, its symptoms, and the prevention measures they can take to keep themselves safe.They do it by going door-to-door, sharing messages in markets and other public gatherings, on the radio and via posters. They also provide handwashing stations and clean water.'Happy to support'“I started volunteering when I saw how the Red Cross volunteers were helping their community during severe flooding,” says Christopher Hatungimana, a 38-year-old who has been volunteering with the Burundi Red Cross for 14 years. “I was impressed with these humanitarian activities and decided to join this important work.” Christopher learned first aid and has helped people suffering from all kinds of injuries, from burns or broken bones. Since then, he’s also played a role in helping thwart the spread of infectious diseases.With mpox, it was not easy at first to convince people that mpox should be taken seriously. But volunteers like Christopher persevered with their messages and now people are slowly starting to understand much more about the outbreak.Christopher admits that he and his fellow volunteers are afraid that they may catch mpox when they visit people with their prevention messages. But he says, they are are careful to take all the necessary precautions. He feels secure to continue his work as he is “happy to bring support to the people in the community”.‘Volunteering is in my blood’In one of Bujumbura’s districts, pairs of volunteers go door-to-door sharing information about mpox symptoms and how to prevent the disease. The volunteers also take the time to address any misinformation as there is unfortunately some stigma surrounding the disease.That kind of stigma and misinformation may prevent people from seeking timely medical treatment when the first symptoms occur. And that makes prevention even harder. When seeking treatment, people are tested for mpox and that helps authorities track how the outbreak is developing.“We are helping them to deal with the epidemic,” says Joselyn Ndayishimiye, who started volunteering in 2006 when she was 17 years old. “After our visits, family members shared the important information with others who were not present. The result is fewer mpox cases.”Spreading awareness about mpox in the community here is important, she says, because the epidemic needs to be contained. She also sees how their efforts are appreciated by the community.Melance Kamenyeros runs a café-bar that is a local gathering place in his village in the province of Mwaro. Thanks to Burundi Red Cross volunteers and staff, the 47-year-old father of five is well aware of the ongoing mpox epidemic.“Anyone has good reason to be afraid of an epidemic that has suddenly come to the community,” he says. “Mpox is a disease that can kill a person. But if we observe the proper measures it can be prevented.”One of the measures is Melance has adopted is insisting that clients entering his establishment first wash their hands properly. Melance thanks Burundi Red Cross volunteers for raising awareness about mpox and for setting up a water source to ensure there is enough for everyone in the village.These kind of results are encouraging. Why does Joselyn, now 35 years old, continue her work after 18 years of volunteering in support of her community? She just shrugs and says:“I started volunteering when I was young. It is in my blood.”At the end of the day, the volunteers gather to meet Red Cross staff from the branch and national headquarters. Their discussion starts, as always, with one person greeting everyone with “Tugire Ubuntu” or, in English, “Let us have humanity”. The whole group replies in unison: “Imisi yose na hose” – “Every day and everywhere”.Learn more about IFRC's response to mpox:Africa-wide mpox emergnecy appeal to combat the spread of mpox.Mpox explained

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28/09/2024 |

Article

‘We are ready’: For hospital workers in Southern Lebanon, years of training face another test as conflict arrives at their doorstep

The ongoing crisis in the Middle East, sparked by the Israel-Gaza conflict, has sent shockwaves throughout the region, affecting neighboring countries and communities far beyond the initial conflict zone.In the city of Sidon in Lebanon’s South Governorate, staff and volunteers at the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s Al-Hamshari hospital have been preparing for worst-case scenarios, as bombings occur regularly right on their doorstep and Lebanon’s southern region becomes increasingly affected by the escalation of hostilities.Al-Hamshari is one of two Palestine Red Crescent hospitals in south Lebanon, serving Palestinian refugees and people of all nationalities. It’s also the largest of all five PRCS hospitals in Lebanon, meaning it is a crucial healthcare facility, especially in times of conflict, when its services are needed the most.This volatile environment has compelled the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon to brace for a surge in need, mobilizing resources and being on full alert to respond to the unfolding crisis.“We have more than 300 volunteers and staff members who have been receiving trainings as part of our emergency plan,”says Dr. Ziad El Ainen, Director of Emergency and Ambulance service in the Palestine Red Crescent’s Lebanon branch.A significant part of that training has been done with the Lebanese Red Cross, which also has significant experience responding to mass casualty events. “[Hospital personnel] have been well trained by the Lebanese Red Cross to respond effectively in times of conflict,” El Ainen says.To bolster its capacity to respond effectively to the escalating conflict, PRCS’s Al-Hamshari hospital initiated a comprehensive training program, which encompassed a range of essential skills, including basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, emergency echocardiography, mass casualty triage, and advanced first aid techniques. These trainings equipped the hospital's personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to mitigate the impact of conflict-related injuries and ensure timely and appropriate medical intervention.One person who has benefited from these trainings and is geared up to serve his people, especially during this conflict, is 58-year-old Hossam Sabha, a first responder who has been with the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon for almost 40 years.“As the Emergency Medical Services unit in the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon, we have taken all necessary precautions and steps to respond to any emergency,” Hossam says.“We’ve completed our trainings, and we are ready to mobilize at any time. We have an emergency plan in place for the South and Beirut, and all our teams are on stand-by. We are not afraid."It’s not just Hossam who’s driven by a sense of humanity. His own daughter, Saja, has inherited her father’s fearlessness. The conflict will not stop her from delivering life-saving services, she says.“I’m not afraid at all. I come to the hospital every day because I want to help other people, including my colleagues,” says 22-year-old Saja, who volunteers at Al-Hamshari hospital and is studying to become a nurse. Volunteering, she reckons, is unlike anything she’s experienced.“When you volunteer, you’re exposed to so many people, you get to see what’s happening in the real world. There’s nothing quite like the look of gratitude and relief on a person’s face after you have provided them with the help that they need.”There is no shame in feeling afraid, however, and hospital volunteers and staff are also trained to support each other in coping with their emotional reactions to the events unfolding around them. Saja works closely with 20-year-old Nagham Chanaa – the youngest intern in Al-Hamshari hospital – who's pursuing her dream of becoming a doctor.Despite the stressful nature of her job and the country’s turbulent situation, Nagham somehow manages to smile through it all.“I’m someone who’s very anxious, actually,”she says. “I felt very afraid when I heard an explosion a few days ago — which turned out to be fake air raids — but everyone at the hospital came to me and tried to comfort me. I get a lot of mental support from my colleagues here. We support each other, and we convey that support to our patients as well.”While medical professionals like Nagham and Saja are essential in providing emergency care, anyone can contribute to their community during times of need. All it takes is a caring heart and a willingness to volunteer.19-year-old Ahmad Marwan El Issa, who’s pursuing a Mechanical Engineering degree, is a prime example of that. He volunteers for the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Lebanon as an Emergency Medical Technician, and he does so knowing the risks involved.“The situation is scary because of its unpredictability,” he says. “We don’t know when an airstrike will hit and where it will hit, but we are ready to serve those in need, no matter what.”

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25/09/2024 |

Emergency

Argentina: Economic Crisis

Argentina has been facing one of its most complex socioeconomic crises in recent years, marked by an increase in the number of people living in poverty and extreme poverty, coping with limited access to health services and food, and facing significant difficulties in sustaining livelihoods. Through this Emergency Appeal, the Argentine Red Cross seeks to provide humanitarian assistance, protection and recovery support to families and homeless individuals most affected by the crisis. The operation is designed to benefit 20,000 people over a 12-month period, initially concentrating on integrated assistance and health.

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23/09/2024 |

Article

Mpox: Saving lives by bringing the mpox message directly to the people

Known to some in her community as ‘Mama Eyenga’, Eyenga Bamboko is one of many volunteers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who are leading the fight against mpox in their local communities.Interviewed in the Lingala language in her home city of Mbandaka, she talks about the work volunteers have been doing to protect people from infection and prevent unnecessary deaths among those who do get ill.“My name is Eyenga Bamboko and I'm a first aider and I've been with the Red Cross movement for nearly two years.Colleagues from Kinshasa came to train us as part of CP3 [Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme] so that we could go out into the field and raise people’s awareness on mpox, even before the disease had spread. We were trained intensively on the disease before it even existed in the region.And then mpox arrived. We observed a few cases. We reported these suspected cases to the provincial health authorities. We told them that we had observed cases as we had been trained. They took them to hospital.But the problem was that, in the beginning, we lost a lot of people. Because many people didn't want to believe in this illness. Some thought it was witchcraft, others said it was a curse or traditional illness.A lot of people died because they didn't go to hospital, they went to see the witchdoctors instead. By the time they did get to hospital, it was often too late. We found that those who went to hospital straight away were cured. But those who arrived late were the ones who succumbed to the disease.'I'm going to tell Mama Eyenga’We tried to help the stronger ones recover and we started to raise awareness in the community. Now many people have started going to hospital. They come to see us to say ‘Mama Eyenga, what you said the other day [about mpox], we have seen.’ Sometimes we go and we see that it is exactly that [a suspected mpox case].We ask people to go to hospital, telling them that they will be looked after free of charge, so that we can protect the rest of the family in the home before they too became infected. They are really starting to understand.We're encountering a lot of difficulties in the field. Many people still don't want to believe in this disease. And you can see that a lot of hospitals are overwhelmed at the moment. But we're not going to stop raising awareness.In my own home, I've seen a real change. Especially when it comes to hand washing. When my grandchildren want to play or eat they make their brothers and sisters aware and they say ‘if you don't wash your hands, I'm going to tell Mama Eyenga’. Even at school, they also raise awareness among their friends and classmates.At first, my husband and children didn’t agree with me volunteering. They thought I worked too much and there’s a risk of me getting sick. But now they don’t ask any more questions because they’ve understood that I am helping the community.”Read more about mpox and the IFRC network’s response:What is mpox? Your questions answeredIFRC’s regional mpox emergency appealRed Cross mpox response in the Republic of CongoProfile of Red Cross volunteer Helene: 'I have no choice but to go and try to save lives.'

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18/09/2024 |

Article

Republic of Congo: Congolese Red Cross at the forefront of fighting the mpox outbreak

Along the southern banks of the Congo River lies a group of villages in the Mpouya district.This is where Roch Boetou-Kadilamio, Disaster Management Coordinator for the Congolese Red Cross (CRC), noticed a woman displaying possible signs of mpox in early february.“She was interacting with other community members as she waited for her turn to receive household items distributed by CRC to families displacedby recent floods,” Roch explains.Many African states, including the Republic of Congo, have weak health care systems characterized by inadequate surveillance, diagnostics and patient-care facilities to effectively and efficiently control the spread of diseases, including the recent sharp increase in mpox cases in many countries.The Republic of Congo shares a more than 1.700-kilometer-long border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – the current epicenter of the mpox – leaving it at very high risk of imported cases.For this reason, the IFRC has taken a regional approach, launching an emergency appeal in August 2024 to fund operations across numerous countries already impacted by Mpox, or that are stepping up prevention measures in hopes of limiting the disease's spread.Early warning allows early actionBeing on the ground in the village and trained to monitor risks allowed Roch to identify the suspected mpox case and report it forward to health authorities for follow up and mitigation efforts. This was possible due to a Disaster Risk Reduction programme, implemented by CRC in partnership with the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), which aims to strengthen the capacity of communities to anticipate, respond to and quickly recover from disasters.“We train communities to be aware of potential risks including health risks, detect them early, and seek help timely to reduce further spread of disease and deaths,” said Dr. Lambert Boteya Djoke, Head of Health and Social Actionfor the CRC.Through a network of local and trusted community volunteers, with support from the CRC staff, volunteers send alerts to national health information systems via local health centers. Alerts can also be sent to the Congolese Red Crossheadquartersusing a toll-free telephone number.“For the woman at the distribution center who was suspected to have mpox, we quickly alerted the nearest health center but also the health authorities, including the Ministry of Health,”explains Dr. Lambert. “They swiftly visited the site together with a team from the World Health Organization, took samples for testing and once confirmed positive, followed up with other measures.”Accessing even the most remote villages with critical public health informationThe Congolese Red Cross, as an auxiliary to the government, is actively supporting authorities in preparing for and responding to the mpox outbreak. Given its extensive volunteer network of more than 30,000 community volunteers across the country, of which 15,000 can be rapidly mobilized, CRC supports in reaching the most vulnerable and remote communities with critical information to mitigate and prevent the spread of mpox.“We have communities who live in the forests who cannot easily access public information," saysNadège Blandine Mabika, the CRC’s focal point Community Engagement and Accountability, Gender and Inclusion, and National Society Development. "We also have communities by the river who routinely cross the border into DRC for trade, medical care and other essential services unchecked. All these communities need to be reached if we are to control the spread of mpox."Facing a surging outbreak of a disease with patterns are evolving and not yet adequately understood, the Congolese Red Cross, along with the entire IFRC regional network, remains committed to preventing, controlling and responding to the mpox outbreak for as long as needed.Learn more about Mpox:What is Mpox: Your questions answeredHow volunteers are making the difference in the DRC

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16/08/2024 |

Article

Mpox in DRC: 'I have no choice but to go and try to save lives,' explains Red Cross volunteer

"My name is Hélène Mula. I've been a volunteer since 2018. I'd known about the Red Cross for a while, but I was afraid to join at first because I only knew about their work conducting burials [during Ebola]. I thought that’s all they did. So I was scared.But when I arrived here in Mbandaka, a friend of my son's came to visit him. He was wearing a Red Cross T-shirt. I asked him some questions about it, saying I loved Red Cross but was scared. He put me at ease.Every day I spend about four hours raising awareness on health issues. I do it in the community where I live with members of my community and family. They know me very well. When they see me they say, ‘Oh Mommy Red Cross, how are you?’. Then I go over and talk to them. It’s work that we do with our hearts. If something is going on, they tell me about it.Mpox is here. I learned about mpox through the Red Cross, that there is an epidemic. I didn’t know about the disease before. I was trained about mpox through CP3 [Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness programme]. Now I’m capable of talking about the disease within the community. I explain what the symptoms are, how it spreads, how to avoid it and how people can protect themselves and the community.At first I was scared about going into communities to talk about mpox and the risks. Because I know it can spread from person to person. But it’s okay to be scared. I am a volunteer, I have no choice but to go and try to save lives.It’s been difficult because before we started sensitizing the community, some people didn’t believe in mpox. Others did believe it existed, but thought it was some kind of curse. Some thought that the Ministry of Health had made a curse in order to come and demand money from the community.But over time, when they started to see more and more people dying, they started calling us saying ‘come, come, there’s a problem here’. I’d call my supervisor and we’d follow up to see if there are cases. The fact people are calling me now reassures me I am doing good work.In my neighbourhood, people have started to protect their children, wash their hands regularly, and limit contact with people who are sick or suspected of being sick. They now take people who are showing symptoms to the hospital. Before, they used to keep people who were sick at home. But now when they see symptoms they understand they can’t leave them at home, that there’s a risk of the disease spreading."--Hélène Mula is a DRC Red Cross volunteer based in Mbandaka, Equateur - one of the provinces hardest hit by the mpox outbreak. This testimony was captured in mid-July 2024.Hélène is part of the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness programme (CP3) - a multi-country programme funded by USAID which supports communities, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats.The CP3 programme has been active in DRC since 2018. Learn more here.

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14/08/2024 |

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Mpox Outbreak: IFRC network scales-up preparedness and response across Africa

Statement from Mohammed Omer Mukhier, IFRC Director for Africa RegionThe International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) joins the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in expressing profound concern over the recent evolution of the mpox outbreak across the African Continent. With over 17,000 suspected cases and 500 deaths across 13 countries in 2024, the current outbreak represents a sharp increase—160% in caseload as compared to the same period in 2023 with expected high number of unreported cases. The case fatality rate (CFR) of 3.2% is also alarmingly higher in Africa, compared to previous global outbreaks.The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounts for 92% of all cases this year. However, sustained transmission of the new Clade 1b has now crossed borders into Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Other countries in the Africa region have also reported suspected cases and re-emerging outbreaks. This new variant is affecting a wide range of demographics, with ongoing community transmission occurring without zoonotic exposure, unlike the previous outbreaks in 2022 and 2023.While governments across Africa are taking steps to control potential or ongoing outbreaks, the IFRC reaffirms its unwavering commitment to supporting preparedness and response efforts against mpox within the framework of government plans.In the DRC, the DRC Red Cross is already supporting the government response in Equateur province through risk communication and community engagement, community-based surveillance, and psychosocial support to affected families. Given the high-risk profile of Clade 1b in the eastern DRC and neighboring countries, the IFRC and DRC Red Cross are finalizing a scale-up plan to these areas.The IFRC network, through its 49 National Societies, 18,000 branches, 14,000 staff and 4 million community volunteers across Africa, will leverage its unparalleled reach to support governments as an auxiliary partner. This includes community–based surveillance, risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control, water sanitation and hygiene promotion, mental health and psychosocial support, and advocacy for, and direct involvement in vaccination programmes. With extensive community acceptance and access, the Red Cross Red Crescent Societies can play a crucial role in containing the spread of the disease, even in the hard-to-reach areas where the need is the greatest.We commend Africa CDC for its timely partnership in ensuring for vaccine availability and advocate for uptake of the same. We call on all partners to support a sustained and swift scale-up of resources needed to contain this epidemic of continental concern.

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12/06/2024 |

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Uganda Ebola outbreak 2022: The importance of safe and dignified burials

In countries around the world, burial rituals—whether cultural, traditional, or religious—are an important way of honouring the dead and helping people grieve. For many communities, special burial practices enable them to bid farewell to their loved ones in a respectful and meaningful way.Losing someone is never easy. But what if someone you love passes away, and you’re told that the burial traditions your community holds dear may put you all in danger?This is what happened to people in Mubende, Uganda, in September 2022 when the country declared its first outbreak of Ebola in more than a decade. The government barred communities from burying their loved ones due to the risks involved, declaring that burials should be managed by trained safe and dignified burial teams.Ebola is a cruel disease. Deadly when left untreated, and highly contagious, it’s transmitted from person to person through direct contact and bodily fluids. When someone is infected, their families and friends are unable to provide hands-on care. And when someone dies from Ebola, their body continues to be highly contagious for up to seven days, meaning that safe and dignified burial measures must be followed to prevent further infection.Kuteesa Samuel from Mubende knows this all too well. He lost his wife of 20 years, Monica, to Ebola during the 2022 outbreak. Monica was seven months pregnant at the time, meaning Samuel also lost his unborn child.In Samuel’s culture, it’s customary to wash and wrap the body of the deceased. And if a pregnant woman dies in the community, tradition dictates that the foetus is buried in a separate grave. But during Ebola, these practices would have posed a deadly threat to people’s health.Knowing this, the Uganda Red Cross Society were poised to step in.Local, known, trustedUganda Red Cross staff and volunteers are part of the fabric of society in Uganda. They come from the communities they serve, follow the same local customs, and have a deep understanding of people’s needs and sensitivities when disaster strikes.They therefore understood why Samuel’s community felt scared, confused, and reluctant to abandon their traditions.But following sensitive, patient, and repeated engagement from local Red Cross volunteers—who worked hand-in-hand with local health authorities and community leaders—Samuel’s community agreed to a compromise. Monica’s body was left intact and safely buried by trained Red Cross teams following strict health and safety protocols. While a banana flower was symbolically buried in a separate grave to mark the loss of Samuel’s unborn child. “After the health workers engaged and explained everything to us, we came to an understanding. […] If it wasn’t for Uganda Red Cross, we would not even know where the deceased would be buried. They helped us to bury the deceased to ensure we don’t get infected. So, we greatly appreciate the Red Cross,” explains Samuel.Preparedness saves livesSince the last Ebola outbreak in 2012, the Uganda Red Cross Society had worked hard to improve its preparedness for future health emergencies and strengthen its auxiliary role supporting the Ministry of Health during disease outbreaks.With support from the IFRC through the USAID-funded Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3), as well as through an Ebola preparedness emergency appeal (2018-2021) and a Disaster Response Emergency Fund (IFRC-DREF) operation (2018-2020), they undertook lots of different preparedness activities across different parts of the country.Emergency preparedness involves planning for the worst, so one of those activities was developing a pool of qualified safe and dignified burials trainers and teams across the country. These teams were ready to be deployed immediately to support communities like Samuel’s when the 2022 Ebola outbreak began.“CP3 was so instrumental to this response. We were only able to respond on time because we had done preparations. We already had prepared teams, and this enabled us to swiftly respond,” explains Dr Joseph Kasumba, Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Officer with the Uganda Red Cross who led the response.Humanity in the darkest of momentsDuring the 2022 Ebola outbreak, Uganda Red Cross teams conducted a total of 512 safe and dignified burials. These efforts contributed to the outbreak being declared over in a record four months.What’s harder to quantify is the emotional support and meaningful care that Red Cross teams provided to communities in perhaps the worst moments of their lives. For that, here’s some powerful testimony from those affected by Ebola, or involved in the response:“When it comes to Ebola Virus Disease, communities always need someone they can trust, people they can identify with. And the fact that the Red Cross is always part of the community... we know what cultural practices are done. We know what the community wants us to do and they feel confident identifying with us, even in that time of grief and sorrow.” - Dr Joseph Kasumba“We really thank the health workers because they taught us how to protect ourselves. We are still grateful for what they did. It was a miracle for us.” - Janet, Mubende resident“Since Ebola started in Mubende, it is the Red Cross that has walked with us. Every community knows Red Cross here. We appreciate you for the work you’ve done. The people of Mubende appreciate you for offering your lives to stand in the gap and save lives.” - Rosemary Byabashaija – Resident District Commissioner in MubendeIf you found this story interesting and would like to learn more:Visit the Uganda Red Cross Society websiteClick here to learn more about the Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3). Funded by USAID, CP3 supports communities, National Societies, and other partners in seven countries to prepare for, prevent, detect, and respond to disease threats.Sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter.

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27/05/2024 |

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Menstrual Hygiene Day: ‘I feel free. I can go to school every day.’

“Do you know what this is?”Esther Sevilla is holding something colorful in her hand. She raises her arm, showing it to a group of students standing in a circle outside the classroom block.“Yes!” the students shout in unison.The muddy ground under everyone’s sandals and dusty shoes is slowly drying after the morning rain. A little boy in gray shorts and a purple shirt, the school uniform here at Kotome Primary School, raises his hand:“It’s a sanitary pad!”He steps into the middle of the circle and receives the pad from Esther, picking up a pair of pink panties from a table. He demonstrates how to attach the pad, amid giggles and embarrassed laughs from the other students.Today, menstruation is on the schedule at this schoolyard in Kapoeta, a small town in eastern South Sudan. This lesson is part of a larger initiative to encourage more girls to attend school. Sanitary pads cost money. When families can’t even afford food, daughters will be left without menstrual hygiene products and will miss school up to a week each month.A volunteer for the South Sudan Red Cross in Kapoeta, Esther Sevilla displays a white cloth bag with the Red Cross emblem, and soon the girls line up to receive one each.“These bags contain pads and panties, but also a flashlight, towel, and clothesline. Washing the pads is important to stay healthy,” she explains.‘Now I can talk’The approach is holistic, going well beyond access to sanitary pads. It’s also about ensuring there is adequate clean water for washing, drinking and household use, and about making sure the entire community in included. The project is just one example that highlights ways in which Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies are putting the theme of Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024 — Together for a#PeriodFriendlyWorld — into action on a local level every day.The boys in the school also receive soap, for example, as it’s important that they feel seen and included as well. Clean water and better latrines are other projects that have been implemented here and in five other schools in town. At neighboring Kuleo Light School, teacher Tonny Okello explains the benefits of the initiative, not just for the girls' education.“We will improve the well and replace the diesel generator with solar panels,” he says. “The generator often breaks down, leaving us without water. There will be a tap here in the schoolyard and one outside the fence for the community to use.”Sixteen-year-old Lona Mude is pleased by these improvements.“Now I can talk to my friends about menstruation; it’s not strange,” she says. “The boys know more and do not harass us. Before, I stayed home three or four days each month. I was worried that people would notice that I had my period and laugh at me.”Only one third of the girls in South Sudan fulfil basic education. Here in one of the world’s most dangerous countries for girls, violence against women is widespread, and half of the young girls are married off before their 18th birthday.‘Now I feel free’This cooperation between the South Sudan and Swedish Red Cross Societies (and with support from the Swedish Postcode Lottery) has reached nearly 10 000 students, parents and community members during the last three years.In villages around Kapoeta, volunteers hold meetings to discuss the importance of girls' education and the dangers of child marriage. They provide information on good hygiene in areas where clean water is scarce and on violence against women and available support.The South Sudan Red Cross works in many ways to improve people’s lives. The world’s youngest country, formed in 2011 after the separation from Sudan, struggles with the consequences of many years of violence and conflict, climate disasters, poverty, and hunger. Emergency aid is provided for survival, alongside long-term efforts like in Kapoeta – striving for change and a future for South Sudan’s boys and girls.And change is happening. More girls can attend school every day of the month, like 13-year-old Jessica Lokidor.“Before I stayed home when I had my period, up to a week,” says Lokidor. “Now I feel free; I can go to school every day. For me and other girls here, school is important. We gain knowledge to share with others. We shouldn’t have to be married off. I want to become a doctor and help people in need.”Text by Anna Lithander

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27/05/2024 |

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Menstrual Hygiene Day: After an earthquake destroyed their village, they began stitching their own solutions. It's just one of many stories about our ongoing work on menstrual health.

Words by Joe Baaklini, IFRC Communications OfficerWhen disaster strikes, people are affected in different ways. While shelter, food and water are basic needs for nearly everyone during an emergency, women and girls often find themselves in a particularly vulnerable situation.Often, they find themselves with no access to very essential products that are critical in maintaining their health and well-being: menstrual hygiene supplies.This was the predicament that women and girls in Morocco found themselves in when a 6.8-magnitutde earthquake left a trail of destruction in its wake on September 8, 2023.In the Moroccan village of Ait Youssef, for example, disposable pads were running out, and relying solely on the already strained supply chain wasn't a sustainable solution.To understand the situation and adapt the response to the specific needs of the community, the Moroccan Red Crescent Society (MRCS), supported by the IFRC, decided to talk to the women of Ait Youssef.Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorldIt’s a perfect example of the kind of community work being celebrated on World Menstrual Health Day, which this year carries the themeTogether for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld. Two of the key goals is to break down the stigmas and taboos that exist around issues of menstrual health and to ensure that women have access to the products they need.Through focus group discussions, the Red Crescent volunteers discovered that most women in the village used to rely on pads distributed by the MRCS, but some resorted to using old cotton sheets as supplies dwindled.Thus, an innovative plan was hatched: introducing reusable, washable menstrual pads as a sustainable, eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for menstrual hygiene management.However, producing the reusable pads was no easy feat, as finding the right materials proved challenging. Travelling hundreds of kilometers in search of suitable fabrics, MRCS teams eventually procured the essentials: cotton sheets for comfort, absorbent materials to trap flow, and waterproof fabric to prevent leaks.The teams even had to get a little creative: the waterproof fabric that they found at first was typically used as the covering for sofas, so it was a bit to thick and rigid. So they found and procured thinner, more comfortable variants.With needles, thread, scissors, and pins in hand, IFRC and MRCS staff and volunteers gathered the women of Ait Youssef for a sewing session. The women, with their existing experience, skills and knowledge, proved to be quick learners. Within two short hours, a batch of reusable pads was complete.“The introduction of reusable pads has provided women with a sustainable and cost-effective menstrual hygiene solution,” said Rihab Abou Kalfouni, IFRC Hygiene Promotion Delegate, who worked closely with the women on the project.“We have received positive feedback from a few of the women who have used the pads,” she said. “They reported increased comfort, improved overall well-being in addition to a reduced amount of waste generated by disposable pads.”“Hopefully, we’ll be able to expand this project in the future and include more women in different communities.”Together for a#PeriodFriendlyWorldThe collaboration between the Moroccan Red Crescent Society, the IFRC, and the women of Ait Youssef stands as a testament to the power of localization and community-driven solutions. It’s also a strong example of the ways in which the theme of World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024 — Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld— is being realized on a daily basis by communities, local Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and other partners. In a #PeriodFriendlyWorld, the stigma and taboo surrounding menstruation are history and everyone can access the products, education and infrastructure they need.‘Now I feel free … I can go to school’In South Sudan, for example, the South Sudan Red Cross (with support from the Swedish Red Cross), is helping to increase access to sanitary supplies, reduce the stigmas and taboos around menstruation and provide access to clean water for washing and other household use.Not just a women’s issueIn Madagascar, 23-year-old Red Cross volunteer, Valisoa Liesse Razafisalama, has been leading an initiative to challenge societal norms surrounding menstruation. In many post disaster situations, fear of talking about menstruation or other health issues can mean that women do not get the attention, care and supplies they need to stay healthy. Valisoa has organised awareness sessions for both men and women, emphasising the natural and normal aspects of menstruation.“We encourage the equitable inclusion of women in community decision-making, breaking with the trend of prioritizing men,” she says. “We persist in our efforts because as women volunteers, we make significant contributions to the well-being of the communities where we operate.” Ensuring privacy and dignityMenstrual health is also critical in situations where people live in camps or temporary shelters where access to sanitary facilities — public bathrooms and washing areas — are often not adequately private or protected for women and girls.In the massive Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh, where more than one million people live in makeshift shelters without running water or electricity, the Bangladesh Red Crescent (BDRCS) provides water and sanitation services to thousands of people.To ensure those places are as private, safe and comfortable for women as possible, BDRCS water and sanitation teams regularly meet with communities and listen to women’s concerns. Recently, they constructed additional privacy walls around washrooms to enhance privacy and comfort for women and girls.With support form the Swedish Red Cross, the BDRCS also regularly distributes sanitary napkins to female community volunteers who spend long hours working in the camp, where access feminine hygiene products is very limited.Learn more more about Menstrual Hygiene and the IFRC network’s response around the world:Discover even morecase studies from our National Societies’ MHM activities in this collectionExplore our wealth of practical guidance, tools and advocacy resources on menstrual hygieneon our dedicated WASH site hereVisit thededicated WASH page on the IFRC websiteVisit theglobal Menstrual Hygiene Day campaign pagefor more information about this year’s themeContact our Senior Officer for WASH in Public Health, Alexandra Machado, for any MHM-related questions:[email protected]*We recognize that not everyone who menstruates identifies as a woman, and that not all women menstruate.

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04/06/2024 |

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Guinea Red Cross supports communities in the fight against rabies

Little Ousmane was at home in Faranah, central Guinea, when he noticed a stray dog outside. Curious and wanting to play, he approached the creature. But before he had time to react, the dog leapt up aggressively and bit him on the chest and hand.His grandfather alerted the local Guinea Red Cross volunteers, who arrived quickly to tend to Ousmane, wash out his wounds, and track down the dog for investigation. Thankfully, they were able to arrange for Ousmane to get the necessary health treatment. Lab testing later confirmed the dog had rabies, meaning that without the quick action from volunteers, Ousmane likely wouldn’t have survived.An incident like this is a parent’s worst nightmare and a common worry among communities in Guinea. But through theCommunity Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3), funded by USAID, the Guinea Red Cross is running different activities to reduce rabies risks and make sure deadly dog bites are a thing of the past.Raising community awarenessPreventing the spread of diseases like rabies relies on communities having accurate and trusted information on how they can stay safe.Guinea Red Cross volunteers, known and trusted by their communities, regularly go door-to-door, organize community meetings, and take part in local radio shows—educating people on rabies risks, how it’s spread, and how they can protect themselves.Through this engagement, communities learn the importance of reporting stray animals displaying unusual or aggressive behaviours and of looking out for signs of rabies within their own pets.Supporting vaccination campaignsVaccinating dogs is the most effective preventive measure for reducing the risk of rabies.But for a rabies vaccination drive to be successful, people in the community need to see the value of vaccinating their pets and—crucially—turn up in their droves on the day.That’s where the Guinea Red Cross comes in. While the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock provides the vaccines and veterinary staff to administer them, it’s Guinea Red Cross volunteers who drum up demand within communities and accompany people to their appointments.“Thanks to the vaccination campaign, which we heard about from Red Cross volunteers, our dogs are no longer a threat—they are healthy companions. It’s an act of responsibility for the security of everyone. Vaccinating dogs protects our community,”explains Mamadi Fofana, a traditional healer and hunter from Faranah who was convinced to vaccinate his dogs against rabies.Keeping tabs on the canine populationRabies vaccines don’t last forever, with animals requiring booster shots every 1-3 years to keep them rabies-free. So the Guinea Red Cross has set up a dog database to keep tabs on the canine population in Faranah.Volunteers track when and how many vaccine doses have been administered, and record owner details so they can reach out when it’s time for a booster.If a bite incident occurs, the database helps them to track down the owner to investigate and conduct further engagement around the importance of taking responsibility for their animals.The data is also used by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock so they know how many doses of vaccines are needed when planning dog vaccination drives.Bite response and community-based surveillanceWhen someone in Faranah is scratched or bitten by a potentially rabid animal, Guinea Red Cross volunteers are usually the first to hear about it and arrive on scene.Trained in epidemic control, they can provide crucial first aid. For suspected rabies, this involves vigorously washing out the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and wrapping it in a clean bandage while awaiting emergency health care.Through a digital community-based surveillance system, calledNyss, volunteers quickly report bite incidents to their supervisors, who can then escalate the alert to local human, animal, and environmental health authorities for rapid investigation and treatment.Time is of the essence when someone is bitten. As the eyes and ears within local communities, Guinea Red Cross volunteers play a vital role in detecting and alerting suspected rabies cases early to maximize people’s chances of survival.The fight against rabies in Guinea is a marathon not a sprint. But with patient and continued engagement with local communities and strong collaboration with authorities in rapidly reporting and responding to bites, the Guinea Red Cross is supporting people in Faranah to stay safe and healthy from this deadly disease.---The activities featured in this article are part of the multi-countryCommunity Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme (CP3).Funded by theU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), CP3 supports communities, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and other partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease threats.If you enjoyed this story and would like to learn more,sign up to the IFRC’s Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Newsletter.

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08/05/2024 |

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World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day: How a vigilant volunteer helped thwart an emerging cholera outbreak

The city of Tog Wajaale, perched on the Somaliland-Ethiopia border, serves as a crucial crossing point for people and goods, particularly those coming and going from the port of Berbera, located about 300 kilometers away on the Gulf of Aden.It is also a place where an outbreak of any infectious disease could travel quickly — and far — because of the high levels of commerce and people passing through.That’s one reason the swift action of a Red Crescent community health volunteer Nimao Abdi Bade was so critical during the first days of a cholera outbreak in January 2024.Spotting a family with severe symptoms, Nimao recognized the signs and reported their case via a platform managed by the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS), which then triggered a swift official response from health authorities and the rapid activation of resources from IFRC's Disaster Resonse Emergency Fund.It turned to be the first reported case ofacute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and cholera in Somaliland and it led to a combined and coordinated response that greatly reduced the impact of the outbreak.A vigilant volunteerNimao's vigilance didn't stop at the first case. Tracing the family's contacts, she uncovered more potential cases involving people who had recently crossed the border. This led to confirmation of several cholera cases and a Ministry of Health intervention.Trained by SRCS to identify and reportcases ofacute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and cholera and inspired by her success, she urged others to report illnesses promptly."AWD/Cholera was new to us," Nimao says. "But SRCS training equipped us to respond. I am so proud of myself and being a volunteer of SRCS."The outbreak prompted SRCS to deploy more volunteers for house-to-house visits and hygiene promotion.Nimao's commitment went beyond initial reporting. During her house-to-house visits, she identified five additional cross-border cases, promptly reporting them. These reports, verified by SRCS Community Health Officer Roda Mohamoud Mohamed, led to further investigations. The following day, six more suspected cases were reported and escalated to the Ministry of Health.Empowered by her success, Nimao has become a champion for timely reporting and community-based surveillance. Her diligence exemplifies the vital role volunteers play in strengthening public health responses.SRCS also responded by mobilizing volunteers in Wajaale, another town on the Ethiopian-Somaliland border, and the surrounding areas, as well as the nearby Marodijeh region. The focus shifted to house-to-house visits, hygiene promotion, and raising community awareness about AWD/Cholera risks and prevention.

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07/05/2024 |

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Keeping humanity alive by helping communities stay safe from infectious diseases

In the outskirts of Bongor, a town on the western border of Chad, volunteers from the local Red Cross and the French Red Cross are hard at work.In a residential area teeming with children and animals — and under daily scorching heat — the volunteers are organising activities with the community aimed at helping prevent and control the spread of infectious disease.The community here lacks the infrastructure needed to deliver safe water or discharge their wastewater. And because public fountains used for gathering water are not maintained rigorously, the risk of infection here is high.Lack of sanitation systems means that other risky practices, such as open defecation, pose significant hygienic and epidemiological risks.For this reason, the volunteers are raising public awareness about ways people can protect themselves from infection, such as proper cleaning and sanitation of water sources as well as practices to avoid.“The activities raised real awareness among community members,” says Catherine, a 26-year-old volunteer for the Chad Red Cross and local resident. “We notice in particular that the vaccination centre is much busier.”A pharmacy technician, Catherine has been volunteering with the Chad Red Cross for more than a year. She is responsible for raising awareness of the dangers of open defecation.Red Cross volunteers and community members are mobilised three times a week to clean areas most at risk and raise awareness of good practices.“The project will continue to live on its own on the principle of the community transmitting [this information] to the community,” Catherine adds.Catherine is passionate about her work to build knowledge and resilience in her community, and stop diseases from spreading. “The objective,” she explains, “is to fight measles, yellow fever, poliomyelitis, Guinea worm and COVID-19”.The Red Cross volunteers use community disease surveillance methods to keep people safe – recording health-related data about specific issues or incidence of illness affecting the community, and encouraging people to report suspected cases.For Marie-Claire, a state-certified nurse and resident of Bongor who manages a women-led health centre in the city, the Red Cross efforts are effective because they have built trust with people in the community."The Red Cross serves as a trusted intermediary between residents and the health centre,” she says. “The Red Crossconducts disease surveillance and sends pregnant women or those suspected of illnesses for consultations [with the health centre]."The volunteers’ disease-prevention work in various neighbourhoods of Bongor is supported by the Programmatic Partnership between the IFRC network and the European Union. The partnership provides strategic, flexible, long-term and predictable funding, so that National Societies can act before a crisis or health emergency occurs. It is being implemented in 24 countries around the world.

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