ReliefWeb

A report on the an evaluation conducted for Uganda Red Cross to document lessons learnt in health epidemics response and to document their organizations capacity to respond.

Introduction

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 187 member National Societies. The Organisation acts before, during and after disasters and health emergences in order to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. Our work is guided by seven fundamental principles (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality) and by Strategy 2020, which voices our collective vision and determination to move forward in tackling the major challenges that confront humanity in the present decade.

In 2009 the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies adopted a 10 year strategic direction - Strategy 2020. Specifically the strategy lays out three strategic aims:

1. Save lives, protect livelihoods and strengthen recovery from disasters and crises.

2. Enable healthy and safe living.

3. Promote social inclusion and a culture of non-violence and peace.

The IFRC`s Eastern Africa Regional Representation (EARR) endeavours to support National Societies (NS) in the Eastern Africa region and the Indian Ocean Islands to better serve their communities based on the three strategic aims above. By virtue of location, the region supports National Societies prone to health epidemics such as Measles, Cholera, Ebola, Yellow fever, Marburg fever, Meningitis and more. In meeting held with health coordinators from NS in the region, epidemic preparedness was expressed as a priority by the health coordinators who asked for support to develop contingency plan for health epidemics and technical support on how to improve their preparedness to health epidemics.

To start the process, Uganda Red Cross society was selected for an evaluation that would lead to lessons learnt and shared on how health epidemic preparedness can be improved for NS in the region. The evaluation would also begin the process of contingency planning for the NS through a three-day lessons learnt and contingency planning workshop.

URCS Strategic plan for 2011 – 2015 clearly says that the NS commits to improving the health status of vulnerable and affected communities by reducing morbidity and mortality arising from common diseases and health emergencies. They will do this by building community capacity to manage common health emergencies and disease outbreaks, and enhance road and water transport safety (Strategic Direction 2, Objective 1.) The plan also says that the NS commits to strengthening community resilience and institutional capacity to ensure disaster risk reduction, response and impact reduction is in place by (i) designing effective risk mapping for timely and appropriate response to man-made and natural disasters and (ii) developing and implementing appropriate disaster risk reduction interventions for the vulnerable communities including food security and environment management (Strategic Direction 2, Objective 2.)