Appeal Target: CHF 1, 182,574 (USD 1,534,572
or EUR 1,831,216)
Period covered: June to November 2003
The Federation's mission is to improve
the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It
is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers
are active in over 180 countries. For more information: www.ifrc.org
In Brief
Appeal coverage: 34%; See attached Contributions List for details.
Outstanding needs: CHF 780,045
Related Emergency or Annual Appeals: 13/2003 Flooding and Landslides
Programme Summary: The progress of the programme implementation during the reporting period has been heavily affected by the emergency relief operation for the flood and landslides that struck the country in the middle of May. The limited resources of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) especially at the management level had to be focussed on the relief operation which made it difficult for the society to take timely decisions to re-plan programmes.
Consolidation of the community based disaster preparedness programme in the flood -prone districts was completed at the end of November. The value of the programme was shown in the enhanced performance of volunteers during the flood relief operation. Satisfactory progress was made with district level vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA) workshops after the peak of the flood operation.
The new model of the community based health and care programme started in September with several months delay due to limited resources in the SLRCS health division coupled with other planning initiatives with sister societies in the health sector, but the programme is now on track.
The pilot population movement project, a new initiative not included in the original 2003 Appeal, is still at the preparatory stage. The project, funded by DFID, is designed for 15 months and the planning phase commenced in October. The project will focus on HIV/AIDS prevention in the district of Jaffna.
The better programming initiative (BPI) exercise had to be delayed. Local fundraising initiatives demonstrated a high level of local support for the flood operation, and a five-year fundraising business plan has been developed. Capacity development of the society both at the national headquarters and branch levels remains as the major issue.
Operational developments
Although peace talks between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been suspended since April, both parties seem committed to continue the peace process. The LTTE presented the first ever proposal on the interim administration of the country's northeast in October , seeking five years of autonomous administration before an election. A power struggle in November between the two leading political parties, United National Party and People's Alliance, over the peace talks gave rise to a potential constitutional crisis. This further complicated the peace process as well as the 2004 budget approval by parliament.
The partner national societies (PNS) coordination meeting in October confirmed the commitment of the Movement partners to take a common approach to the capacity building of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society (SLRCS) through their supported programmes. The flood and landslides relief operation continued to impede the progress of SLRCS programme activities. In September the General Assembly of the national society endorsed the current governance and management set-up of the society. Review of the implementation of the new constitution sponsored by the SLRCS president is to be completed by the end of the year with the remaining desk review of Governing Board papers. The SLRCS embarked on a new five-year strategic planning process from November, which will lead to the cooperation agreement strategy (CAS) process in early-to-mid 2004. The chief executive of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society branches and the branch executive officers, are expected to commence their tenure from January 2004.
1. Health and care
Overall Goal: To contribute to developing models of self-sustaining community based health care programmes across the country and thereby advocate for changes in policies and practices so that vulnerable communities gain more effective access to health services.
Programme Objective and Expected Results: The health policies, practices and services of government and other institutions will be influenced by the Sri Lanka Red Cross' model of participatory community based needs assessment and access to health care.
Expected Result
The Ministry of Health and other health agencies will recognize the value of the Sri Lanka Red Cross' community based model and adapt their services to respond to the needs identified.
Progress/Achievements
Five projects have been involved in pursuit of the objective of contributing to the development of models for self -sustained community based health care programmes across the country. As outlined in the prev ious programme update, this included the Canadian Red Cross funded/ICRC delegated community-based health care programme in Vanni districts, completed in May, and the Korean Red Cross funded community-based first aid training and services program me in 17 districts.
In addition to those two projects there is now the new model of the community based primary health care programme in Kurunegala, funded by the British Department for International Development (DFID ); the OPEC-Fund supported community based HIV/AIDS program me; and the Danish Red Cross funded psychosocial development programme (still at the project formulation phase) in Jaffna district.
The DFID-funded community based health care programme in Kurunegala which has a special emphasis on primary health care (PHC) commenced in September 2003. While this was several months behind schedule, the programme is now on track. Based on the finalised plan of action, a village level needs assessment was carried out by 90 trained volunteers led by 18 community health workers (CHW) in Krunegala district. Those volunteers are now being trained in a series of three workshops on primary health care. Training is being assisted by the medical officer of health, the health education officer , the public health inspector and supervising midwives. Two workshops have been held to date and the last batch will commence this month. Those already trained have been dispatched to their own villages to conduct health education through home visits under the leadership of CHW. The programme is being coordinated with and supported fully by the provincial director of health services and deputy provincial director of health services .
The community health care program me in Vanni is being scaled down because of the local community's access to free public health services, as a result of the ceasefire and opening of a major access road. The health unit of the national headquarters is exploring possibilities as to how best the lessons learned from the programme could be shared in other areas through volunteer training and standardisation models and curricula developed. Some of the lessons learnt are being adopted in other health areas at present.
Impact
The pilot phase of the Kurunegala health care project which concluded in May had a fairly satisfactory impact on the community in the district. However, it is expected that the project under the new model will bring about a greater potential impact on health conditions of the target population.
The impact of the other projects can be more meaningfully assessed in the annual report.
Constraints
The position of the Sri Lanka Red Cross health director has been vacant during the fourth quarter. This together with resources devoted to discussions/planning with Movement partners for an increased number of planned health interventions has impinged upon the progress of existing programmes.
Coordination
The SLRCS continues to effectively coordinate the community based health care activities with the Ministry of Health and other health-related organisations. The Health Ministry recognises the value of services provided by the national society and extends full cooperation to all SLRCS health activities.
With the growing number of PNS interested in working with the Sri Lanka in the health field, a PNS coordination meeting was jointly organised by the SLRCS, ICRC and the Federation in Colombo at the end of October . Representatives from seven sister societies attended. The Federation assigned a regional health manager focussed on Sri Lanka from October to facilitate and advise the national society on programme planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Expected Result
The society's HIV/AIDS programme will alleviate the stigma and discrimination facing people living with the disease through public sensitization and development of services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Progress/achievements
Public awareness and sensitisation program mes to fight stigma and discrimination are in progress targeting the vulnerable groups in many parts of the island. A draft five-year strategic plan prepared on HIV/AIDS has been forwarded to the South Asia Red Cross Red Crescent Network on HIV/AIDS (SARNHA) and the final plan is now being prepared. A variety of activities such as a photo exhibition, video shows and distribution of information/education communication (IEC) materials have been organised to mark World AIDS Day 2003.
A draft accelerated action plan for the OPEC Fund support ed HIV/AIDS programme has been forward to the OPEC HIV/AIDS office for its approval to proceed with some of the adjusted activities in the plan, while awareness programmes are in progress for such vulnerable groups as factory workers, senior grade school children etc in the districts of Trincomalee, Manner, Kalutara and Puttalam . Components in the accelerated action plan address issues of social non-acceptance, stigma and discrimination to achieve SAR NHA objectives.
Impact
The impact of anti-stigma and discrimination projects is difficult to quantitavely assess in the short term. However a solid platform is being established to enhance the Sri Lanka Red Cross's capacity to change attitudes about people living with HIV/AIDS including distribution of education and information materials, lobbying the government and continued publicity about issues surround HIV/AIDS. The development and eventual implementation of a questionnaire to survey public opinion out their perceptions of people living with HIV/AIDS will be a useful gauge on impact and will be outlined in future reports.
In response to HIV/AID S awareness program mes conducted to date in selected districts, there is an emerging demand from other districts for the same programmes.
Constraints
Approval from the Federation/Australian Red Cross OPEC Fund coordination team is still pending regarding some planned programmes including for awareness creation radio broadcasts.
Coordination
The SLRCS has maintained constant dialogue with the Ministry of Health's national HIV/ AIDS control programme and strengthened the coordination by inviting expert resource persons to serve in the society's resource panel on HIV/AIDS.
Expected Result
A decentralised and self-sustaining first aid structure will have scaled up first aid training and services at district and divisional levels in 17 districts of the country.
Progress/achievements
The Sri Lanka Red Cross national headquarters first aid unit has conducted 63 training courses for public and private sector organis ations and five training programmes for its branches during the reporting period. This brings the total number of training courses for the year to date to over 110.
During this period the first aid unit has trained 1347 persons (2,792 for the year to date) and generated income of Rs 401,098 (approximately CHF 5,400). Some 200 volunteers from 20 branches have been trained on basic first aid and a further 30 volunteers from five branches have been trained in advanced first aid. Twenty volunteers from 20 branches have been trained as instructors/ coordinators. Initial steps have been taken to establish a school of first aid training and services. The first aid kits purchased by the unit outlined in the previous programme update have been distributed to the branches.
Impact
The capacity of the first aid volunteers to provide community based first aid services was built up and strengthened through the training programmes. The trained volunteers have provided first aid services and saved several lives during this period. There has been an increased demand for the private sector for first aid training.
Constraints
Insufficient training facilities and equipment continue to be a constraint. A shortage of skilled staff is another impediment. These factors have affected the national society's ability to develop a national team of competent trainers and instructors. Apart from the inherent value of first aid training, the programme is also a useful income generating activity. There is an urgent need for improved equipment/capacity/facilities.
Coordination
The Ministry of Health is assisting and guiding the Sri Lanka Red Cross first aid programmes through its provincial level health network.
Expected Result
The Sri Lanka Red Cross programme will improve the quality and self-sustainability of safe blood donors recruitment campaigns across the whole country over the next three years.
Progress/achievements
National society safe blood donor recruitment organis ers have taken steps to scale up the blood donor recruitment camps in districts where the Health Ministry/Department Blood Banks reported low levels of blood collection. In collaboration with the National Blood Transfusion Services of the Ministry of Health, the Sri Lanka Red Cross has trained some volunteers on blood donor recruitment.
A programme for capacity building of Sri Lanka Red Cross volunteers through skills training on safe blood donor recruitment is included in the activities within the 2004 Annual Appeal.
Impact
Since at present blood donor camps are still being established by volunteers in the selected eight districts, it is too early to make an assessment of the impact. An analysis of the impact will be outlined in future reports.
Constraints
Organis ing safe blood donor recruitment camps has been constrained by the absence of funding support.
Coordination
Support for country-wide coordination of blood donor recruitment continues to improve with t he assistance of the Ministry/Department of Health Blood Transfusion Unit.