VANUATU RED CROSS DENGUE FEVER OUTREACH

The team have contact with the communities members

Sandrine (Health Coordinator) and Denny (Health Assistance) traveled to Malekula Province to provide training to Vanuatu Red Cross Society volunteers in preparation for a community mobilization activity. This activity forms part of the Emergency Plan of Action for the dengue fever outbreak in Vanuatu. Populations directly targeted in this plan include dengue hotspot areas of Emae Island (Shefa Province) and Lakatoro & Lamap locations in Malekula Province. The action plan includes three key components and these are:

1.    Ways to prevent dengue fever and vector eradication.

2.    Mass communication campaign to increase awareness and help achieve behavioural change.

3.    Waste disposal campaign to support community mobilization for vector eradication.

As of 27 February, 1798 suspected cases have been reported to the Ministry of Health.

Awareness with the community members

Dengue illness is suspected if you have symptoms of: High fever for at least 2 days; Severe headache; Nausea and vomiting; Muscle or joint pains; Pain behind the eyes; and Rash.

Anyone who suspects that they have symptoms of dengue should seek medical advice from their nearest healthcare facility. Dengue can be a dangerous disease because in severe cases (symptoms may include intense stomach pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums) it may cause death.

At present, the main method to control or prevent the transmission of dengue virus is to combat mosquitoes through:

• preventing mosquitoes from breeding by destroying breeding sites such as empty coconut shells and tires and rubbish.
• disposing of solid waste properly and removing artificial man-made habitats;
• covering, emptying and cleaning of domestic water storage containers on a weekly basis;
• using of personal household protection such as window screens, long-sleeved clothes, insecticide treated materials and coils;
• improving community participation and mobilization for sustained mosquito control;

Awareness with the communtiy members

VACANCY FULLTIME POSITION: LIVELIHOODS, GENDER & CHILD PROTECTION SUPERVISOR

Vanuatu Red Cross Society, working jointly with the support of the Australian Red Cross, is seeking applications for a dynamic and highly motivated person to immediately fill the position of Livelihoods, Gender & Child Protection Supervisor to join its VRCS team in Port Vila.

Qualifications and Profile required:

·         Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline

·         Skills and experience in livelihoods program management and/or gender and protection

·         Strong financial management skills

·         Excellent interpersonal skills

·         Effective time management skills

·         Well organized

·         Able to work both as part of a team and with minimal supervision

·         Capable and confident public speaker and trainer

·         Integrity

·         Current driver’s license with clean driving record

·         Willing to travel as required

Knowledge & Skills:

·         Prior experience managing community development or disaster recovery programs

·         Experience in community consultation and stakeholder engagement

·         Proven experience managing financial information and program budgets

·         Livelihoods and/or gender and protection experience desirable

·         Understanding of gender, inclusion and protection principles

·         Excellent communication skills in Bislama

·         Excellent communication skills (oral and written) in English

·         Knowledge of the Vanuatu context and cultural traditions 

·         Ability to use Microsoft Word and Excel

·         Current drivers license

·         Knowledge of the Red Cross Movement is an asset

VRCS is an organization involved in emergency, early recovery and development programs. Therefore, all VRCS staff have to be available at any time in order to respond to any emergency work, should the need arise.

All Vanuatu Red Cross staff must agree to and sign the Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct as well as providing a current police clearance. This is a condition of employment.

Interested applicants are invited to pick up a more detailed job description of this position at Vanuatu Red Cross Office (located at No 2 opposite ABM No2), or send request by mail to:  recruitment@redcrossvanuatu.com

Submit your application letter with CV and copies of Certificates and References directly to our Head Office or via email: recruitment@redcrossvanuatu.com or Post addressed to HR Department, Vanuatu Red Cross Society PO Box 618, Port Vila.   Contact Person:   Joanna Kalpokas – 27418

Applications close on Monday 24th October 2016 at 5.00pm.

THE RED CROSS DONATES BOATS IN TORBA

Signature of MoU in Mataka (Gaua Island, Banks Islands, Torba Province) with representatives of Health Center and the Red Cross

The Vanuatu Red Cross Society (VRCS), supported by the French Red Cross (FRC), donated two boats to health centers and one to Torba Province in 2015/2016.

In December last year, the Red Cross (RC) donated two boats along with equipment to Loh (Torres Islands) and to Mataka (Gaua Island, Banks Islands) Health Centers. In February this year, a third boat was donated to Torba Province in Sola (Vanualava, Banks Islands). “The RC activities in Torba tend to decrease with only one project left at the end of December this year. However, we want these boats to continue benefitting the extremely remote populations of Torres and Banks Islands, most of them we have been working with for 6 years. This is the reason why we donated them to these actors.” - explains Julien Lamberti, former RC Head of Project for the Disaster Risk Reduction project “Together Becoming Resilient” currently being implemented in the region.

Boat Donation to Loh Health Centre (Torres Islands, Torba Province) with representatives of the Health Center and of the Red Cross

In order to formalize the donations, tripartite Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed between beneficiary Health Centers (Torba Province for the third boat), the Health Department of Torba Province and the VRCS. From the signature of the agreements onwards, the Health Centers and Torba Province have been authorized to use the boats as they will. Nonetheless and until the end of the RC project, the boats will remain available to the Red Cross and its staff if when needed. “The 3 boats will be used to take care of approximately 3,000 people, in areas where it can take up to two days of walk to reach the communities. The two firsts will give the inhabitants access to minimum health care, and the third one will be available for assessments and distributions in case of disaster. The Province has always been a major Red Cross partner for disaster risk reduction.” - Julien concludes.

VANUATU RED CROSS ANNUAL GALA NIGHT

Hi everyone the Vanuatu Red Cross Annual Gala Night will take place this month on the 25 of June at the newly refurbished Holiday Inn Resort!

The Theme is: "Glories of the Roman Empire" and it promises to be a fun filled night! Buffet dinner, raffle, prizes for best costumes!
Dress: Ancient Rome, Greece or Egypt!
Get your togas & Roman sandals on and come join the party!!

This year we are raising funds for Disaster Preparedness and disaster response!

Spaces are limited! Only 6,500Vt per person!

To purchase your tickets please contact the Vanuatu Red Cross on (+678) 27418 or email vicepresident@redcrossvanuatu.com or ceo@redcrossvanuatu.com

Please tell, forward and share this message on your personal FB page and with all your friends and relatives.

We look forward to seeing you there!!!

BENEFICIARY STORY: CDC MEMBERS RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR WORK: DISTRIBUTION OF SOLAR LAMP

In the aftermath of cyclone PAM, the category-5 storm that hit Vanuatu on March 13th 2015, affected people were left without power and electricity. It left them with no access to light, a vector of security and comfort, especially in times of disasters. Families expressed their need during assessments and from there it became an important issue to be tackled.

Total’s donation of 2,000 solar lamps allowed the Vanuatu Red Cross Society (VRCS) and the French Red Cross (FRC) to develop a national distribution program to all cyclone-affected households, including the beneficiaries present in the VRCS/FRC projects areas of intervention.  Indeed, it was the case in Gaua Island (Torba Province), where Total’s solar lamps were distributed by the Community Disaster Committees in the frame of a Disaster Risk Reduction project jointly implemented by the VRCS and the FRC.

Community Disaster Committees are groups of volunteers, elected by their respective community members and trained by the Red Cross, in charge of implementing DRR activities (awareness sessions on disasters, passing the alert in case of disaster, etc.) in their communities to increase their resilience.

Distribution of relief items is one of the responsibilities of CDC members, especially after a disaster that has tremendously affected a community. CDCs need to make a distribution that is fair and transparent for everyone in the community and also to report in details to whomever is responsible for the relief to be distributed in the community.

The CDC members from Lemoga Community, located in the Eastern part of Gaua Island, participated in a 1-day  trainingon distributions. CDC members learned about disaster relief procedures, accountability and logistics of distribution, needs assessment process and report validation. A practical exercise was also performed by all trainees through the distribution of solar lamps donated by Total in the community. During that training session, CDC members also learned and practiced how to make a distribution in their own communities by distributing solar lamps to 24 households. A form was used by all CDC members during distribution in order to collect information on the number of people in each family receiving a solar lamp,  and on vulnerabilities such as disability and gender balance in the household. After completion of the distribution form, heads of household were to sign the distribution form before receiving their solar lamp.

Judah LERRY, a 39 years-old father from Lemoga village on Gaua Island, is one of the happiest father in the community who received a Total solar lamp from the CDC distribution training organized by the Vanuatu and French Red Cross in Lemoga Village. Judah is married to Ansen Roveper; she is 40 years-old. They have five (5) children; Rodney Trevor (22 years-old), Dina Julie (18 years-old), Elison Vogol (13 years-old) and Delison (11 years-old). Judah is a very happy father today after receiving the solar lamp from one of the CDC members.”Mi glad blong luk ol CDC blong mifala i mekem wok ia tete fulap man oli luk save wok blong olgeta tete ia nao”* - he says.

Judah stated that since he was born until today Wednesday 25th May 2016, it was the first time he and his family had a solar light like this one. He used to have one before but it was not a good model, it did not have a separate solar panel and the brightness was not good at all. This solar lamp will be used mainly for kitchen purposes during the evening to provide lighting for food preparation and family catering.

Judah wants to express his words of thanks to the members of his CDC, to the Vanuatu and French Red Cross, as well as Total who made the solar lamp distribution possible. He urges for and wants to see more of this kind of support from the Province to his community.

*”I am glad to see our CDC performing this kind of work here today. Lots of people can now understand what their work can be.”