Round-up: Red Cross supports communities in Haiti and Singapore

The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.

HAITI: Almost 65,000 suspected cases of chikungunya have been reported throughout Haiti since the beginning of the epidemic in May of this year, according to the Pan American Health Organization. Health authorities have not stopped working to curb the effect of the virus, and the Haitian Red Cross plays a large part in empowering the community to stay safe.  In collaboration with the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population, trusted community health workers aim to help 25,000 people in areas most affected by the disease. Red Cross volunteer coordinators lead ‘train the trainer’ sessions, which teach volunteers to train others in their community to disseminate important information. This can include how to recognize chikungunya symptoms, where to seek treatment, and how to prevent the disease.  Community-based health workforces like these not only empower residents to take charge of their own health through peer engagement, but they also provide the most vulnerable people with access to healthcare.

SINGAPORE: In order to best serve the aging population and to ensure that their health needs are adequately met, the Singapore Red Cross has launched a First Aid training course for people who look after elderly friends, relatives or neighbours. It teaches life-saving skills in a way which is both fun and easy to understand so that anyone can take part.  Currently, the Red Cross is working closely with the Agency for Integrated Care and Asian Women Welfare Association to offer a customized First Aid for Caregivers for Elderly to all who might need these skills one day.  Besides training, they are also aiming to provide a customized first aid kit, with the goal of helping hundreds of households be more prepared for any emergency that might occur.
 

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