Vanuatu: One month on since double cyclones, rising cases of Leptospirosis a concern

PRESS RELEASE: There are grave concerns over the increase in Leptospirosis cases, a bacterial disease, one month on from the double category 4 cyclones in Vanuatu.

The country has reported 19 new cases of Leptospirosis and three deaths since the cyclone passed. The majority of cases have been in Santo and Efate islands, with a few cases in Malekula, Pentecost, Malo and Erromango.

Read full press release here: https://www.ifrc.org/press-release/vanuatu-one-month-double-cyclones-rising-cases-leptospirosis-concern?fbclid=IwAR0xL-ut4gMGo2iapND9D-OLkRXMiGfStOtr5zryz5W35lmX-49u_cHP8c0

Lulu Vuti, 53, from North Efate receives relief items from Vanuatu Red Cross volunteers after double cyclones devastated his community.

Photo: Philippe Carillo / IFRC

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

Provincial Simulation Exercise in Torba

Workshop Participants and Facilitators

From 11th to 14th of October in Sola, the Vanuatu Red Cross Society (VRCS)/French Red Cross (FRC) organized a Provincial Disaster Simulation Exercise (SIMEX). This activity was organized in the frame of a disaster risk reduction project funded by the European Union and implemented by the VRCS/FRC in partnership with 25 communities of Torba Province.

Working Group Brainstorming during simulation exercise

The SIMEX was designed to gather last feedbacks from and to get consensus within the Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC) and Area Council Secretaries (ACS) to finalize the Provincial Disaster Plan (PDP) for Torba Province, as well as to test the procedures developed in the plan. PDC coordination role in particular was tested for Provincial Emergency Operations (PEOC) set up, early warning dissemination, compilation of results from community first damage assessment forms, organization of technical assessments, and definition of response options. The Standard Operations Procedures guiding these actions are described in the plan and will help the Provincial Government and communities of Torba Province - composed of numerous scattered islands where some of the remotest communities in Vanuatu live - to be better prepared in case of natural disaster and to organize an efficient response.

In real action conditions, participants had to deal with a Category 3 Tropical Cyclone threatening whole Torba Province. Injects were timely released by facilitators according to the scenario chosen. They included text messages and emails from the National Disaster Management Office and the Vanuatu Meteorological and Geo-hazards Department, phone and radio calls from ACS, letters from partners, etc. The SIMEX was closed by the organization of a fake TV interview on Voice Blong Torba Show (see picture). Besides, upon PDC members’ request, two (2) sessions were offered by the VMGDon El Niño /La Niña phenomena and conducted by a VMGD staff stationned in Sola for a few months. Finally, The SIMEX was also an opportunity to train participants on the Community First Assessment Form newly released by the NDMO, and to celebrate International Disaster Day on October 13th.

This Provincial Simulation Exercise is the first of its kind to be ever conducted in Vanuatu, along with the one conducted in Tafea Province at the very same time. The methodology was developed in the frame of the YUMI REDI Consortium, with the support of Oxfam. This SIMEX is also the result of months of collective efforts from the NDMO, the Red Cross, PDC members and ACS. More than 20 PDC members (representing most of the provincial department) and 3 ACS for Torba Province came over to participate in the four-day training and SIMEX along with NDMO representatives and the Secretary General for Torba Province Mrs. Ketty Napwatt. “I am glad we will finally have our Provincial Disaster Plan in Torba Province; this is a true achievement for everyone and a guideline we can refer to. Besides, a simulation exercise is a good way to identify gaps.” – said Judah Silas, Chief of Police, PDC Chairman playing Operations Manager during the SIMEX and PDC member.

Exercise on Risk Maps

VRCS/FRC and NDMO facilitators were impressed by PDC members’ reactivity and involvement, which is the result of a fruitful 6-year partnership between the Red Cross, the NDMO, Torba Provincial Government and communities. Another result is the development and appropriation of tools by PDC members. Indeed, the tools developed throughout the project (e.g. Risk Maps of all islands of Torba Province) were presented to and used by participants during exercises. At the end of the week, they were donated to Torba Provincial Government to be used at the new NDMO Office opening in November. Material was also donated to ACS for them to use it in their respective offices on the islands. After the tremendous work carried out together and with these new tools, partners trust Torba Province is equipped to cope rapidly and effectively with future disasters.

The last steps before ending this long partnership with Torba Province comprise the signature of the PDRP by the NDMO, Torba Province and the VMGD, as well as a Lessons Learned Workshop to officially hand over the final PDRP and to deliver the NDMO Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Handbook (that will be launched in November 2016). If this workshop will officially be the final point for Together Becoming Resilient program, Torba Province will still need continuous support due to its high vulnerability to disasters.

This article covers humanitarian aid activities implemented with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of the European Union, and the European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

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.

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.”