Summary:
Taking the UN led coalition of the Haitian and Dominican Republic governments to eliminate Cholera, and each country’s national 10 year elimination plan into consideration, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Haiti Red Cross Society (HRCS) and the Dominican Red Cross (DRC) have identified their roles and responsibilities in the elimination of cholera over a 24 –month period. Eight National Societies are involved in the implementation of the cholera related activities on the Island of Hispaniola; however, this report only focuses on the responses of three National Societies (The German, Spanish and Japanese Red Cross Society) to the appeal.
This reporting period was marked by the following activities:
Field visits and discussions with each donor Partner National Society (PNS) to clarify the details about the funds they have available for cholera-elimination activities. The result of these meetings was the understanding that most activities would be implemented bilaterally either by the donor PNS, another PNS or the HRCS, and that some partners would contribute to the Dominican Republic portion of the appeal.
Trainings, hygiene promotion messages and sensitization sessions involving health and hygiene promotion activities took place alongside Global Hand Washing Day celebrations in the areas covered by the PNS and the IFRC
Recruitment and selection processes for community facilitators and volunteers
Regular monthly Movement Cholera Coordination meetings between the HRCS, PNSs and the IFRC
Community coordination meetings
Baseline knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) surveys were conducted in the areas covered by the Spanish and the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS), and a rapid survey was completed in the areas covered by the German Red Cross (GRC)
Beneficiaries were reached through various interventions such as the distribution of hygiene kits, which included soap, aqua tabs and Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS).
The Red Cross has responded to outbreaks with community based disease monitoring, hygiene messages, disinfection of households and by building new sanitation facilities in schools or rehabilitating existing ones.
As of December 2014, CHF 3,146,700 was booked under the appeal, representing 68.6 per cent of the planned annual budget. The total expenditure was CHF 868,555. This 12-month summary provides a progress report on the planning, implementation and coordination of activities carried out, as well as on the changes anticipated under the IFRC Cholera Appeal.
