In brief

Programme purpose: The role of the health and care department is to strengthen the capacity and competences of National Societies in the field of health and care, and to support the scaling-up of activities by providing a strategic vision and high quality technical support.

Programme(s) summary: During the reporting period, the health and care department in Geneva, together with the seven zones, supported National Societies through guidance, expertise and technical and material support. It focused on integrated approaches contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Global Agenda Goals - to reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.

A significant example would be the National Societies' programmes in the field of malaria prevention. The growing scientific evidence shows that combining the distribution of nets and "Hang Up" campaigns in order to increase the use of nets has a positive impact in the field. Trained volunteers taught households that received a net on how to use it, thus bringing an essential contribution in reducing the burden of the disease. Since 2002, more than 249,000 deaths due to malaria have been averted, and 17.5 million people have been protected, as a result of Red Cross Red Crescent net distributions.

In 2008, the global health and care forum was held in Geneva from 14 to 16 May. This forum was an added opportunity to identify new ways to address key health and social challenges. In celebration of the 30 years since the Alma Ata Declaration, the focus for this year's forum was to collectively discuss primary health care as a means to strengthening health systems. A concrete step in this direction was the completion of the Community-Based Health and First Aid (CBHFA) in Action curricula set (implementation guide, facilitator guide, the volunteer manual and community tools).

The International Federation's psychosocial support reference centre in Copenhagen also redefined its strategy and core activities which contributed to all Global Agenda Goals, as they strived to reduce the impact from disasters (Goal 1), reduce diseases and public health emergencies (Goal 2), increase capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability (Goal 3), and reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion (Goal 4). To find out more, go to: http://psp.drk.dk/sw41534.asp

Financial situation: The total 2008 budget is CHF 5,382,022 (USD 5,125,735 or EUR 3,588,015), of which 100 per cent covered. Expenditure overall was 100 per cent.