AEGiS-IFRC: Red Cross Red Crescent health experts gather to highlight importance of community-based approach

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Red Cross Red Crescent health experts gather to highlight importance of community-based approach

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - May 10, 2005

As governments and health experts prepare for the World Health Assembly next week, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is calling on decision-makers to give civil society a greater role in combating the world's major health challenges. To highlight the Red Cross Red Crescent successes in tackling health problems, the Federation is hosting a global health forum from 11 to 13 May.

"Health advances need strong political commitment to be accompanied by strong community participation. By engaging with communities and involving grassroots organisations like the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, major health initiatives are more likely to succeed," says Freddy Karup Pedersen, chairman of the International Federation's Health Commission. "Fortunately there is a growing acknowledgement within the international community of the need for these bottom-to-top partnerships, and those that exist have given tremendous results. Our National Societies are especially well-positioned not only given their outreach into vulnerable communities, but also as a result of their unique position as auxiliaries to their governments in the humanitarian field."

One outstanding example is the recent campaign in Togo, when all children under the age of five in the country were vaccinated against measles and polio as well as receiving an insecticide-treated mosquito net to combat malaria.

"A key element in the success of the campaign was the way the social mobilization activities of our 7,400 community-based volunteers in 400 communities complemented the technical, logistical and political skills of the other partners. In a vaccination campaign like this, it is essential that a critical mass of children is reached, and it was our ability to reach even the remotest villages that ensured success," says Dr Antoinette Awaga, programme coordinator of the Togolese Red Cross.

The Togo experience will be just one of many success stories highlighted at the Red Cross Red Crescent Health and Care Forum, which will be attended by around 100 leaders and health experts from the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, as well as representatives from partner organisations. The keynote speech will be delivered by Dr David Nabarro, who will be representing WHO Director General Lee Jong-wook.

In recent months, well-trained community-based Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers have played a crucial role in responding to major health crises. In Sri Lanka and Indonesia they were quick to offer first aid to those affected by the tsunami on 26 December and have since been delivering essential health services, including the provision of safe water and sanitation. In Angola, they are trying to halt the spread of the highly contagious Marburg virus by carrying out vital public education campaigns in the community.

"Between these emergencies, Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are helping to improve the health of the communities in which they live on a daily basis: offering home-based care to people living with HIV/AIDS, monitoring maternal and child health or educating their neighbours about good hygiene.

This engagement with communities, allied to strong political leadership and generous donor support, means that far-reaching success can be achieved even in the poorest countries. We hope to see the World Health Assembly strongly endorsing this approach," says Bruce Eshaya-Chauvin, head of the International Federation's Health and Care Department.

While often regarded as a being primarily a disaster response organisation, 70 per cent of all Red Cross Red Crescent activities are in the health field. Health programmes constitute the largest segment - about 40 per cent - of the International Federation's annual appeal budget.

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