Indian Red Cross Society, Tamil Nadu Branch, 89 TH Anniversary ICRC

His Excellency Thiru Surjit Singh BarnalaGovernor of Tamil Nadu &

Parton-in-Chief of IRCS TNB

Dr.Vimala RamalingamPresident

Dr.P.SivarajChairman & Vice Persident

Thiru S.SilambananVice-President

Tmt.Shanta DiazSecretary

Ms.Uma GopalHonorary Treasurer

Committees

General Committe Executive CommitteSub Committe

Youth redcrossSub-Committe

HospitalSub-Committe

Junior redcrossSub-Committe

Child WelfareSub-Committe

Blood BankSub-Committe

Projects & BuildingsSub-Committe

VT & RCSub-Committe

Finance & AdmnSub-Committe

III

Our world. Our Move

The year 2009 has great significance for the Red Cross and Red Crecent Move-ment as it marks the 150th anniversary of the Solferino battle which founded the ideal spirit of volunteerism, the 90th anniversary of the founding the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and also the 60th anniversary of the Ge-neva Conventions, which give protection to the most vulnerable people in times of war. In the true spirit of celebrating the achievement, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has launched an international campaign called “Our World, Your Move” which identifies 14 most dreadful and pressing humanitarian challenges and encour-ages every individual to make their possible contributions in order to build a better world. The year 2009 is also significant to Indian Red Cross Society, Tamil Nadu branch as it celebrates the 89th year of anniversary. In order to celebrate this important landmark and being a responsible member of Red Cross family, Tamil Nadu branch makes every effort to promote this imperative global campaign within its territory. Indian Red Cross Society, Tamil Nadu branch has been actively dealing six of four-teen said challenges which are relevant in our context, through its regular activities like day care hospital, disaster relief activities and its externally funded projects by other Partner National Societies. This booklet is an attempt to document all our ef-forts addressed towards dealing the challenges and share with its member volunteers, academic institutions, other I/NGOs, government departments and the general public. By sharing this booklet, we hope that they will understand the pressing humanitarian challenges and be persuaded to make their own move to address these challenges. I am happy to share this booklet with the belief that everyone understands the fact that Our World is in a Mess and everyone has the responsibility to make their move to build a better world. More importantly it is the right time to make that move.

Dr. Vimala RamalingamPresidentIndian Red Cross Society, Tamil Nadu branch

IV

INCREASED DISASTERS Saving Lives through Community Action.

FIRST AID Using community-based first aid to save lives and reduce divisions.

FOOD & WATERWorking with communities to improve food security and access to water. ACCESS TO HEALTH AND CARERed cross Red Crescent helps to mitigate world-wide health crisis

TORN APARTBringing families back together- challenge

VICTIMS OF DISCRIMINATION Global Commitment To Change Behaviour

Challenges Dealt byIndian Red Cross Society

Tamil Nadu Branch

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ICRC Challenge NO

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12.Increased Disasters-Saving Lives through Community Action

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Our Move in facing the challenge

Disaster Management Program

The sharp increase in the number of natural disasters worldwide in recent years has prompted the Indian Red Cross Society, Tamil Nadu Branch to de-vote more attention to disaster preparedness activities. These aim to make District and Sub Branches and communities more aware of the risks they face, how to reduce their vulnerability, and how to cope when disaster strikes.

Focus of the DM Program

1. Capacity Building of Red Cross branches2. Community Capacity Building 3. Emergency Response, Relief and Recovery Capacity Building of Red Cross Branches

A. Capacity Building to Red Cross Volunteers

• A State Disaster Response Team (SDRT) was established to ensure swift response during all kind of Disaster. The team in-cludes 25 well trained members from 17 disaster Prone Districts.

• District Disaster Response Teams have been established in 12 Disaster Prone Districts

• 30 members from 15 districts were trained in First Aid, Search and Rescue. As a follow-up of this training, initiation is being tak-

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en to establish First Aid, Search and Rescue team at District level.

• 2 District Branch Capacity Building workshops were conducted and 60 Office bearer form 22 districts participated in these workshops.

B. Physical Building

• DM Control Room in State Headquarters has been established with necessary IT equipments and GIS has been installed with the support of Canadian Red Cross.

• DM Training Centers, Multipurpose Buildings have been construct-ed in 7 Disaster Prone Districts.

•Construction of Disaster Management Train-ing Center in State Head Quarters is under process.

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Community Capacity Building

• Community Based First Aid, Search and Rescue Trainings are or-ganized at vulnerable communities time and again.

• Community level Disaster management committees have been established in 10 villages of Nilgiris and Chennai Districts. • Vulnerability and Capacity assessment has been undertaken in The Nilgiris District.

• Periodical training camps are organized to create awareness on Disaster Management to JRC and YRC volunteer • 200 life jackets were distributed to the fishermen communities in Tiruvarur district. • In 6 costal districts 29 Communities completed village mapping to understand the potential hazards and available resources to miti-gate the disaster damages.

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Emergency Response, Relief and Recovery • During NISHA Cyclone in November 2008 more than 5000 family packs were distributed to the Flood affected victims in 10 districts of Tamil Nadu

• After Tsunami various livelihood support and short term recovery programs have been initiated to improve the living condition of tsunami victims.

• Psychological support programs was initiated to support the vic-tims of Tsunami in Kanyakumari District.

• 40 houses have been build and handed over to the Tsunami victims in Kanyakumari District.

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Savings lives by ealry warning and community action Community Based Disaster Risk Reductiion project: IRCS belives that invest-ments in disaster risk reduction (DRR) are much more cost effective than expenditire on relief and rehabilitation. Moreover, DRR initiatives attempts build safer communities through which have less exposure to disaster risks. IRCS TNB has just initiated the community based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) project in 6 coastal districts-Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Kanyakumari - where integrated programme for community development (IPCD) is being implemented as post tsuna-mi reconstriction programme with the support of Canadian Red Cross.

The focus of the project is of two-fold

1. Capacity of buildig Red Cross branches 2. Capacity building of communities

Capacity building of Red Cross branches• 5-day Master Training of Trainers in CBDRR was organized by Tamil nadu state branch. 25 existing project staff of IPCD were

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trained as Master Trainers in CBDRR. • The master trainers will provide training to 362 health promoters in CBDRR• District secretatries and select executive members are to be ori-ented on DRR• District level disaster response teams are to be formed and strengthened in 6 districts under this project• A warehouse is planned to be con struted for effective response during relief operations • Geographical information system lab to be set up at Tamil Nadu state branch, Chennai • Strenthgthend the linkages between district, state and national head quarters of IRCS, other NGOs and government departments

Capacity building of communities• Formation of various community based disaster risk reduction enti-ties at the community level

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• 364 Community Micro Groups, covering 30 households in each group are to be formed in 29 communities and they are to be ori-ented on CBDRR. This is to ensure better participation of everyone in the community• Village disaster management teams (VDMT) with representation of CMG, Panchayat, creche teachers, health promoters, opinion leaders are to be formed in all 29 communities• Leadership training and finance management training to VDMT members• Disaster Management Task Forces are to be formed in all 29 com-munities and these teams are to be trained in specialise skills like search and rescue, early warning, watsan, public health in emergen-cies, shelter management, psychosocial care first aid etc • Assisting 29 communities to conduct vulneability and capacity as-sessment • Facilitate the communities to prepare village level community con-tingency plan (CCP) in 29 communities• Introducing group micro insurance for Community micro group members as a safety net

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06 FIRST AID Using community-based first aid to save lives and reduce divisions Easy availability of first aid providers with always ready to use first aid kits and manual in the disaster prone villages is an im-portant component of RC strategy of preparedness towards vari-ous disasters/emergencies. So IRCS Tamil Nadu Branch promotes Community Based First Aid by identifying and training the suitable vol-unteers from vulnerable communities and equipping them with first aid kit.

• 362 Health Promoters, selected from 29 vulnerable com-munities affected by tsunami have been trained in C Based First Aid and deputed as First Aid provider with adequate kits to extend their live saving services to their own communities • 100 volunteers from marginalized communities (eunuchs and com-mercial sex workers) were trained in First Aid and given first aid kits • 30 IRCS volunteers from 17 districts were trained in first aid and they have initiated to establish first aid team within their own district • The trained Health Promoters from 29 tsunami affected com-munities disseminate knowledge on the importance of first aid and transfer the skills to their own communities. They follow a standard Red Cross manual in disseminating the knowledge.

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• The trained Health Promoters provide first aid on day-to-day ba-sis and they are considered most valuable asset within their commu-nities IRCS ensures periodical replenishment of first kits as to ensure uninterrupted service in the community.

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08 FOOD & WATERWorking with communities to im-prove food security and access to water IRCS provides support to communities affected by disasters to restore their traditional livelihood and to look for bet-ter alternative livelihood options. The livelihood promotion of com-munities ensures their food security and thus better living. IRCS

also improves the access to drinking water for these communities.

• Community Development Groups for Restoration of livelihoods (CDG-RL) have been formed among women and men communities to collectively use the opportunity to improve their livelihood. There are 94 CDG-RL with 1880 people who are getting benefit by earn-ing a better income under CRC supported IPCD Programme which is implemented in 29 villages from 6 tsunami affected coastal districts

• 5 net mending sheds, 1 fish auction hall and 1 multi-purpose build-ing were constructed and used by the communities to improve liveli-hoods, both traditional and alternative, of 3050 families

• 2 CDG-RLs (40 members) in Nagapattinam district have been

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supported with water tankers. These water tankers managed by the women group fetch portable drinking water for the entire communi-ty of 7134 persons from outside. This, apart from solving the drink-ing water problem in the community, also generates income from selling water for a nominal cost which goes to women CDG-RL

• In order to restore the livelihood of fishermen affected by tsunami, IRCS provided boats, fishing nets, and ice boxes. • 40 Boats to 24 men groups which have 480 fisher folk as mem-bers; 80 ice boxes were given to these boat groups under IPCD programme supported by CRC

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• 8200 Kg Fishing nets were distributed to 4600 fishermen (including inland fishermen) • 25 Women CDG-RL groups from 6 tsunami affected districts were supported with seed capital amounting Rs 12,54,650 to realize their alternative livelihood options as to improve their family income. Us-ing the seed capital these women have started new small business

IRCS Tamil nadu state branch works with women for their socio-economic empowerment. The women are organized into Red Cross groups which bring a group of approximately 20 women together and work col-lectively towards their socio-economic development. The women groups are encouraged to actively involve in savings and credit activities which pro-motes their economic independence. Also, coming and working together as a group has brought them a sense of social recognition within their community.

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• 94 Red Cross Community development groups for restoration of livelihoods (CDG-RLs) are ac-tive in 29 communities where IPCD project is implemented

• They have saved up to INR ............... and out of which INRs ..............have been dispursed as internal loans

• Assets like net mending shed, fish auction hall, multi purpose center, water tankers, cargo autos created under IPCD pro-gramme, a tsunami rehabilitation initiative, have been handed over to these women groups for operations and management

• Moreover these women groups were supported with grants for ini-tiating new businesses and/or developing their existing businesses

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10. ACCESS TO HEALTH AND CARE IRCS strives to address the health needs of community living in chronic poverty further intensified by the disasters, through direct commu-nity based health promotion interventions and coordinating with govern-ment health departments and communities to bridge the gap between them.

362 Health Promoters in the community were trained in MCH. These HPs make door-to-door visit to disseminate knowledge to relevant people and provide special care to those in need • These HPs also work with government health department to reach the government services to the most vulnerable people • Periodical Health Camps are organized in coor-dination with the Government health departments • These HPs have also been trained in HIV/AIDS and soon they will

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start disseminating knowledge on HIV/AIDS among the communities.

Care and support to physically challenged

The ircstnb has running an Artificial Limb Centre for provid-ing better alternative and higher dignity to the poorest persons born with congenital or acquired ambulatory problems by equipping them with the necessary tools from -------. This includes caliper making, ar-tificial limbs, leather work and wood works. Since the methodology and the procedures followed have been outdated, the Artificial Limb Cen-tre has been renovated and refurbished with necessary warehouse fa-cilities along with a modern Prosthetic and Orthopedic Laboratory and a therapy department with the support of the Italian Red Cross.

As part of the rehabilitation project of prosthetic and orthopedic laboratory, Indian Red Cross Society – Tamilnadu Branch has received 1260 prosthetic and orthopedic aids consisting of tricycles, wheel chairs, calipers, crutches etc., costing a nominal value of Rs. 65,000/- from Italian Red Cross.

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14 CHALLENGE-TORN APART

• Family members are often separated from each other dur-ing armed conflicts and other situations of violence, disasters and events that disrupt their lives, such as regular or irregular migra-tion.

• The Movement can alleviate the anguish of those who are without news of their relatives if all of its components are ready and able to respond to their needs, reunite with their families and clarify the fate of missing relatives.

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Our Move • Capacity Building Programme from Gross root Level

• Regular visits to Refugee Camps, Juvenile Homes, Home for Men-tally Ill, Children Care Homes , and Prisons for foreigners

On 26.04.2009, they reached Trichy and they were taken to shanthivanam home, Mrs. Jayanthi Moithru waited for her son’s arrival. When the son saw his mother in front of the Shanthivanam Home, he fell down unconsciously. It has become very emotional, he run to hug her mother with full of tears. He never believed that his mother is still alive until he saw her at Shanthivanam home.

A formal meeting was arranged in Trichy by the District branch of Tamil Nadu Red Cross and Mrs. JayanthriMoithru was handed over in the plea-sure of District Collector Mr. Soundaiah I.A.S., Chairman of the branch, Dist Secretary of IRCS, District Branch and many other dignitaries.

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Family reunited at Mandapam refugee camp • Family reunited at Gummudi poondi refugee camp • Tracing cell established during tsunami at Nagapattinam district •

and 10 persons were traced out.Family reunification of unaccompanied minor at Tirunelvli district • Missing person traced out at London • Missing person traced out in Switzerland• Bangladesh girl successfully traced out in Chennai • Missing person traced out in Sri Lanka •

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13 VICTIMS OF DISCRIMINATION Global commitment to change behavior

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VICTIMS OF DISCRIMINATION Global Commitment to Change Behavior AIDS-related stigma can lead to discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS-related discrimination means that people are treated negatively and denied opportunities on the basis of their HIV sta-tus. This discrimination can occur at all levels of a person’s daily life, for ex-ample, when they wish to travel, use health care facilities or get a new job.

PLHA-Care and support – Hospital project

People with HIV/AIDS can live healthy lives for longer if proper care and support is provided. Their immune system can be strengthened by medi-cal treatment, food, rest and exercise. They can cope much better if they are happy and feel productive. Emotional support and a positive attitude will help them to avoid depression. A lot can also be done to avoid the devastating effects that illness and death have on families and childrenThe program provides comprehensive care to adults, adolescents and children living with HIV/AIDS and their families and signifi-cant others. The scope of services includes counseling, testing, out-patient and inpatient clinical care, nutrition and community support

According to appropriate, physical and psycho-social care, pallia-tive care is given to PLHA leads to the humanity and support in their family members and community, and die with dignity and warmth.

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3 ‘S’ Link Programme

Government hospital of the thoracic medicine, with sanctioned 776 bed strength and 120 bedded rehabilitation centre to the needs of over 1000 inpatients. It is the largest AIDS care center in India with around 500 patients visiting the separate HIV out patient department daily and over 400 patients taking inpatient treatment in 16 HIV wards including one palliative care ward. Components of 3 ‘S’ Link Programme

SERVICE –Hygiene pack for HIV in-patient;• Nutrition for HIV in-patients;• Amenities for attending families.•

SUPPORT -

Nutritional counseling for in-patient or their families; • Counseling support to affected families; follow-up support in their •

home districtsSTIGMA –

Awareness generation;• Sensitization in society; • Mass campaign with active interaction with HIV infected individual •

alsIMPACT

Increase in Nutrition awareness • Greater awareness on facts about • HIV/AIDS and safe sexPsychological support – suicidal tendency averted • Awareness about Care during Pregnancy•

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Increased awareness on Facts about Breast feeding• ART treatment and follow up•

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YOUTH PEER EDUCATION PROGRAMME Three decades into the HIV epidemic, young people and chil-dren remain at the heart of the disease’s effects.People under the age of 25 continue to be disproportionately affected by the epidemic, accounting for more than half of all new HIV infec-tions each year. This fact sheet provides the latest data about the current impact of HIV/AIDS on young people with a focus on those ages 15-24, including the impact by region, on young women and girls, factors that make adolescents particularly vulnerable and key components of preven-tion, care, and treatment interventions.

Objective Reduction in incidence of new infections among young people through youth peer education and life skill development

Implementation

• Three districts in Tamil Nadu (Supported by International Federation of Red Cross)

• Two districts in Tamil Nadu (Supported by Italian Red Cross)

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Activities Capacity Building to the project staff

Sensitization programs for selected institutional heads • Selection & Training to peer educators• TOT workshop for JRC /YRC Counselors• Preparing peer groups for Out-reach activities• Community awareness program•

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MATERIALS AND METHODS

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COMMUNITY CARE CENTRE

AIDS stigma has been widely spreading in the community. Hence, there is a need for more community care centers for children to pro-vide love, compassion, counselling, Education, Medical care, Nu-trition, possible recreation, peaceful atmosphere and special care to the infected and affected children of positive parents.

Goal

To address the major prevention and control measures components of HIV/AIDS such as care, support, prevention and stigma in an integrated manner.

The community Care Centre established in 2004 for the children less than 6 years of age of the HIV/AIDS affected parents are giving care, supplemental nutritious food, providing pre- school, non-formal play way education, person-al hygiene. The center is focusing its efforts on raising awareness of HIV/AIDS.

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ICTC/ IEC MOBILE VAN (TANSACS)

Our Goals is to fulfill our mission of contributing towards mini-• mizing human suffering, especially where health is concerned. To achieve this, we endeavor to pay more attention to health fa-cilities for vulnerable population. We concentrate mainly on HIV/AIDS & STIs awareness programmes so that this epidemic can be controlled and the incidence of HIV infections is minimized.•

The Tamil Nadu state AIDS control society, has allotted 10 mobile • ICTC & IEC vehicles to IRCS District Branches for implementing Infor-mation, Education and communication campaigns.

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Sincere Thanks to Partner National Societies

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent

Spanish Red Cross Italian Red Cross

American Red CrossCanadian Red Cross

International Committee of the Red Cross

Swedish Red Cross

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