Vanuatu Red Cross

A health team was at Emae, monitoring community mobilisation and awareness work.

As at 3 April, total number of cases notified for the two provinces where the Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) is focused are Shefa 1,271 and Malampa 166.

According to a report on ReliefWeb, in terms of the two Island locations that the EPoA community mobilization and awareness activities are focused: Emae has had three cases confirmed and 11 cases suspected. Malekula has had 166 notified cases.

The Health Coordinator, Sandrine Benjimen said, “These explain dengue symptoms and when to get treatment. They also tell people how they can help stop the spread of dengue. Along with other activities, disseminating information is an important part of changing people’s behaviour.” 

In December 2016, the local Ministry of Health established a National Dengue Task Force (NDTF) and began an Emergency Rapid Response to tackle the outbreak.

The Vanuatu Red Cross website says the plans included communicating to the public about ways to prevent and treat dengue fever.

The first training on Safety Operations was conducted on February 7, 2017 in Malekula, Malampa Province.

The Health and WASH Coordinator of Vanuatu Red Cross Society Sandrine Benjimen says the training is still underway and it will be extended to Emae Island where the Dengue Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) will be implemented.

According to the Ministry of Health in Vanuatu, the outbreak of dengue serotype-2 is ongoing with 1,831 cases reported as of March 2, 2017. There were 45 hospitalisations since November 2016.

The participants came from different Red Cross branches around Vanuatu.

The training is especially to build up capacity of Vanuatu Red Cross in First Aid training programs and also build up the branches in First Aid activities.

A total of 12 participants attended the workshop.

Mrs Kate from New Zealand Red Cross, who is the trainer stated at the closing of the workshop that all participants have passed their practical and writing test and all are certified as Vanuatu Red Cross First Aid instructor.

A total of eight people attended basic first aid training over two days recently.

The refresher training gave volunteers basic information on First Aid prior to basic first aid training and First aid instructor training.

This will be supported and conducted by the New Zealand Red Cross first aid instructor in the next few weeks.

The disaster management coordinator, Augustine Garae, said the Red Cross has decided to pre-position relief supplies in the country's six provinces, instead of rushing to buy them after a disaster.

Mr Garae said a main storage facility in the capital, Port Vila, would be used as a forwarding base.

Supplies at the facilities include water containers, building and gardening tools, first aid kits, tarpaulins and bedding.

Mr Garae said the facility would help assist hundreds of households in the event of a disaster.

Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins

RNZI reports the three-week programme by the Red Cross takes in 10 to 15 girls at a time and teaches them skills like sewing and cooking, as well as reproductive health and civil education.

A support officer, Rae Tavoa, said more than 70 girls have completed it since it started in 2014.

She said it was very difficult for girls in Vanuatu to make a living once they dropped out of school.

A cheque was presented by Communication, Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator, Dickinson Tevi to the Director General of Fiji Red Cross Filipe Nainoca.

The cheque was a donation from the Vanuatu Red Cross Society to assist Fiji Red Cross with the TC Winston relief efforts.