The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.
IRELAND: In 10 of 14 prisons in Ireland, a small group of special-status Irish Red Cross volunteers combines an
innovative community-based health approach with the Red Cross Red Crescent Fundamental Principles to change the lives of troubled men, transform prison culture, reduce violence and improve the physical and psychological health of inmates. Since the CBHFA (Community Based Health and First Aid) program was put in place, the percentage of fights involving an illicit, handmade blade has gone down from 97 per cent to 10 per cent in one year. The result has been fewer injuries and reduced prison health-care costs. The program is active in 10 prisons in Ireland, and is due to be extended to all 14 prisons. It has recruited 326 inmates as Irish Red Cross special-status volunteers who have helped to improve the lives of more than 3,279 of their fellow prisoners and the prison staff.
LIBYA: A
training seminar on the treatment of wounds caused by mines, bullets, shrapnel and other weapons was recently held in Benghazi. Organized jointly by the Libyan Ministry of Health, the Libyan Red Crescent Society and the ICRC, the two-day seminar brought together 120 doctors from different parts of Libya. The seminar is an opportunity for leading Libyan surgeons to exchange experiences and best practices with ICRC specialists. In addition, they discuss the problems they face when treating casualties of armed conflict or violence, often with limited resources.
GLOSSARY:
ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross