period covered: 1 May - 30 September 2000
The programmes in Central Africa have progressed well during the reporting period which was marked by operations in response to the outbreak of meningitis epidemics in Chad and the Central African Republic and flooding in Cameroon in August 2000. A regional meeting was held in Sao Tomé in July during which the themes of the PanAfrican Conference were discussed, as well as regional priorities and resource diversification. A further meeting is tentatively scheduled for December to gather Central African National Societies and PNS.
The context
The sub-region of Central Africa covers 8 countries: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Sao Tomé and Principe. Each of these countries is, to varying extents, subject to instability. In Chad, the situation is volatile as a result of the opposition which is active in Tibesti in the north. In the Central African Republic, the social climate is tense as civil servants are demanding the settlement of 25 months’ of unpaid salaries. Furthermore, economic difficulties have given rise to insecurity which could lead to outbreaks of violence at any time. In Gabon, the decline in public revenue has brought about genuine economic vulnerability. In Equatorial Guinea, however, the economic situation is gradually improving thanks to the country’s status as an oil producer. The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a cause for concern since as the conflict continues, the divide between the east, the north and the west of the country is deepening.
Latest events
The region has been affected by climatic extremes which, as of February 2000, led to outbreaks of meningitis which were particularly severe in three countries: Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the humanitarian situation has continued to deteriorate as a result of clashes between Ugandan and Rwandan troops in Kisangani, the intensifying conflict in Kivu and current fighting to the north of the "Equateur" province, resulting in the displacement of 1.8 million people to neighbouring countries particularly in the Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic.
Red Cross/Red Crescent action
Health
Epidemics Prevention
In the context of the fight against epidemics, a training of trainers’ programme has been set up by the Regional Delegation for Central Africa and over the year, each National Society is to organise a training session. The trainers train volunteers at community level so that they may participate effectively in epidemiological surveillance through alerting health authorities of outbreaks of disease, emergency intervention, diagnosis of cases and assistance during vaccination campaigns. During the reporting period, the Delegation supported the Red Cross of Chad and the Central African Red Cross Society to set up training sessions and 30 volunteers in Chad and 22 volunteers in the Central African Republic received training. As of February 2000, cases of meningitis were recorded in Chad, the Central African Republic and Cameroon. An appeal was launched in April 2000 to supply 200,000 doses of vaccine to Chad, the Central African Republic and Niger since the outbreak in Cameroon had been quelled by early interventions by the Ministry of Health. The vaccination campaign began in May and was completed in June 2000. The Delegation was responsible for monitoring the operation and an evaluation took place in June, gathering health officers from the National Societies of Chad, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Niger, Benin and the regional health delegates from the Delegations for West and Central Africa. This evaluation facilitated an analysis of the strengths of the operation, as well as highlighting difficulties encountered. The operation underlined the capacity of National Societies to play an effective role in epidemics prevention. The intervention of volunteers facilitated an early diagnosis of the epidemic and improved recording of data.
Prevention of Malaria
In May, the National Societies of Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Chad organised training of trainers’ sessions on malaria prevention. 30 volunteers from Cameroon, 20 from the Central African Republic and 30 from Chad were trained in awareness techniques for the training of volunteers in the community.
Vaccination - Participation in National Immunisation Days
The Regional Delegation provided support to the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Red Cross of Chad in order to set up their programmes for participation in the National Immunisation Days between October 2000 and June 2001.
Reinforcement of Capacities
During the reporting period, the regional health delegate undertook missions to the following National Societies with a view to assisting the health officers to improve the NSs’ health programmes: Chad in order to assist with the meningitis operation, Gabon in view of the implementation of programmes under ARCHI 2010, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in order to review health programmes since the National Society had been included under the responsibilities of the Delegation for Central Africa.
STDs/AIDS
Theatrical groups in the eight National Societies are doing awareness work in schools and colleges through two performances each week. At each performance, between 300 and 400 pupils are in attendance. The Central African Network "For Peace and Against AIDS", the co-ordination of which is ensured by the Regional Delegation, has published its first bulletin which issues reports on activities carried out by the National Societies in relation to AIDS prevention. A comic strip describing AIDS transmission was published with the input of a caricaturist from Cameroon and 5,000 copies will be distributed in October in schools throughout the eight countries. In July, the health officer from the Congolese Red Cross, the co-ordinator of the network and the regional health delegate took part in the International Conference on AIDS in Durban. The Delegation made two presentations on the fight against AIDS in the region, emphasising the modalities of community participation.
In September, a youth camp took place during which 100 young people from the region met in Kribi in Cameroon to evaluate programmes to combat AIDS and the promotion of the culture of peace. This gathering facilitated an exchange of experience and a programme for the year 2001 was also drawn up.
ARCHI 2010
The Central African Red Cross (CARC) formed a partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to undertake an ARCHI 2010 pilot study (April-August 2000). Pilot sites included health region 1 of the MoH with its 8 sub-prefectures, the 8 "arrondissements" of Bangui and the communes of Bimbo and Bégoua.
The pilot involved 117 volunteers delivering house-to-house promotion messages in their own communities. The volunteers were trained and, in turn, trained another 66 associates. Eleven coaches participated in the pilot study. Results from the evaluation carried out between 18 and 28 August indicate that the volunteers’ activities are filling gaps and work towards implementation of the national health plan for 2000-2002 drawn up by the MoH.
The ARCHI 2010 pilot project benefited from strong support from health authorities and NS staff. Communities also appreciated the volunteers’ efforts and, as a result of interventions, have a better understanding of certain health issues. Volunteers were enthusiastic about their achievements and are ready to do more. Partnerships with the MoH, PSI, UNICEF and UNAIDS should continue to be strengthened. The results of the evaluation will be useful in order to carry out similar projects in the region.
The regional health delegate took part in a delegation lead by the President of the Federation which attended the meeting of African Health Ministers in Ouagadougou. This meeting provided an opportunity to present ARCHI 2010 to the Ministers of Health.
Institutional Development
In accordance with priorities defined by the National Societies in the region in relation to the development of capacities, the regional delegation set up an assistance programme in resource diversification. Four Societies were selected to participate in this programme: Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and Sao Tomé. An initial meeting was held in Sao Tomé and conclusions presented. The Congolese Red Cross plans several activities including provision of first aid services for private companies, and fee paying placement of volunteers; the Central African Red Cross plans to develop a medical centre through new services for the vulnerable population and to find funding for the extension project. The Sao Tomé and Principe Red Cross will make documentaries on the National Society’s experience in problems relating to the elderly and the Cameroon Red Cross Society is to draw up a funding proposal to submit to local businesses. A similar evaluation exercise will take place in the remaining National Societies in 2001.
The Central African Red Cross Society held an Extraordinary General Assembly between 4 and 6 May 2000, the aim of which was to adopt new Statutes and internal regulations and to hold elections for the Society’s President. The Congolese Red Cross benefited from the support of the Regional Delegation which financed the post of accountant for a period of one year.
Disaster Response
Following the eruption of Mount Cameroon in June 2000, a Cameroon Red Cross Society (CRC)/Federation mission carried out an assessment of the situation and set up an early warning system with the local branch. At the beginning of August, as a result of flooding, the CRC and the regional delegation issued an information bulletin to encourage support to assist the flood victims. Three hundred destitute persons without shelter received blankets and three emergency teams were set up to improve sanitation in the affected districts and to put an early warning system in place in partnership with civil security agencies.
As a result of fighting between the Congolese armed forces and the rebel forces in the "Equateur" province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, numerous refugees fled to the Central African Republic. The assessment mission led by the regional delegation confirmed the necessity of reinforcing the Central African Red Cross Society in order to deal with the significant refugee influx. A plan of action is currently being drawn up. The National Society received assistance from other organisations in order to come to the aid of the refugees. MSF donated medicines, plastic sheeting and tents to serve as a health post, as well as a tank of 10,000 litres of water. The UNHCR donated 18,000 chlorine tablets, 1,080 blankets and 393 buckets and the WFP provided food for a three month period.
UNICEF provided vaccines which were used to inoculate some 4,500 children. The regional delegation has made a request to Swedish Red Cross for used clothing for 30,714 vulnerable children in Sao Tomé.
Regional Co-operation
Several missions to National Societies in the region were undertaken during the reporting period. From 12 to 22 May, at the request of the Sao Tomé and Principe Red Cross, the regional finance delegate carried out a review of accounting procedures and assisted the National Society to draw up a budget for the joint Federation/ICRC/NSs meeting held from 1 to 5 July 2000. Discussions were held on the themes of the PanAfrican Conference: food security and ARCHI 2010 and working groups put forward constructive conclusions. The Congolese Red Cross and the Red Cross of Chad gave presentations on volunteerism and food security respectively.
Promotion of Humanitarian Values
During the meeting in Sao Tomé, recommendations were made by the National Societies in respect of the promotion of humanitarian values including the need to train peer educators, the importance of youth membership of the Movement and the value of working with the Ministry of Education to reach young people.
For the 8 May celebration, the regional delegation supported the Cameroon Red Cross for the organisation of a parade of first aiders, volunteers and school children. In July, the National Societies of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea were provided with audio-visual material in order to develop their dissemination activities.
Outstanding needs
Today, the needs and priorities of each National Society in the region are clearly defined. A meeting is envisaged to be held in December between the PNS and the National Societies, with the participation of those PNS which are implementing bilateral programmes in order to ensure that there is a common strategy and to maximise co-ordination.
Current coverage of the appeal stands at 43.5 per cent.
External relations - Government/UN/NGOs/Media
Between July and August, the Head of Delegation made courtesy visits to the diplomatic missions, the Ministries of Health, Social Welfare and Foreign Affairs and international organisations. The majority of those visited showed interest in Red Cross/Red Crescent programmes and would be prepared to provide support in different areas. In order to boost visibility of the Movement, the regional delegation, in co-ordination with the Cameroon Red Cross, participates in radio programmes which are of 15 minutes’ duration and are aired on the national radio on Saturdays at 18.00 hours.
Contributions
See Annex 1 for details.
Bekele Geleta
Head
Africa Department
Peter Rees-Gildea
Head
Operations Funding and Reporting Department
This and other reports on Federation operations are available on the Federation's website: http://www.ifrc.org
Central Africa ANNEX 1
APPEAL No. 01.06/2000 PLEDGES RECEIVED 11/17/00
