The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters.
Summary: CHF 129,275 was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) on 9 August 2007, to support the Uganda Red Cross Society in delivering assistance to some 1.32 million people in Kabarole, Kampala, Kamwenge, Kayunga/Mukono and Mbarara districts over 3 months.
A total of 450 Red Cross volunteers drawn from nine of its affected and high risk branches gained basic knowledge on Marburg haemorrhagic fever and consequently created community awareness on preventive measures against it through sensitization campaigns. A total of 46,620 households (332,413 persons) were reached with messages.
The situation
In July 2007, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed an outbreak of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Kamwenge District .The affected included the Kitaka gold mine community located within the Kakasi forest reserve. A total of 168 suspected cases consisting of 100 miners from Kamwenge, 14 in Busaana-Kayumga and 54 in Kampala Districts respectively were identified and, blood samples taken from them for study and they were also monitored regularly. The outbreak put the neighbouring districts of Kampala, Kabalole, Mukono and Mbarara at high risk due to uncontrolled population movements. A national task force was established to coordinate, monitor and follow up on the intervention. Two isolation centres were established at Kampala-Mulago Hospital and Kicheche Health Centre 11 at Kamwenge and supported with blankets, soap, jerry cans and gloves for effective response to those affected by the Marburg fever.
Red Cross and Red Crescent action
Progress towards objectives
Goal: To prevent the spread of Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Uganda.
Objective: To mitigate the spread of Marburg haemorrhagic fever among 1,320,000 most vulnerable people in Kabarole, Kampala, Kamwenge, Kayunga/Mukono and Mbarara districts for 3 months.
Capacity building (volunteer training)
Specific objective 1: To train URCS volunteers in basic management of Marburg haemorrhagic fever.
Expected result: Basic knowledge about Marburg haemorrhagic fever among the Red Cross volunteers has increased.
Achievements
The National Society trained 450 volunteers drawn from 9 affected and high risk branches namely Kamwenge, Kabarole and Ibanda sub branch (Mbarara), Kayunga (Mukono) and Kampala branches (East West, North, South and Central) in Marburg fever prevention knowledge and information. This training equipped them with the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out community door-to-door mobilization, sensitization and information, education and communication (IEC) material distributions.
How we work
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) in Disaster Relief and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.
The International Federation's activities are aligned with its Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".
Global Agenda Goals:
- Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.
- Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.
- Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.
- Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.
Contact information
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
In Uganda: Alice Uwase Anukur, Secretary General, Uganda Red Cross Society, Kampala; email: aanukur@redcrossug.org; telephone + 256.41.258.701/2; fax + 256.41.258.184
In Kenya: Nancy Balfour, Disaster Management Coordinator Eastern Africa Zone, Nairobi; email: nancy.balfour@ifrc.org; telephone: +254.20.283.5208; fax +254.20.271.2777
In Kenya: Celia Kakande, Ag. Federation Head of Eastern Africa Zone, Nairobi; email: celia.kakande@ifrc.org; telephone: +254.20.283.5235; fax +254.20.271.2777
In Geneva: John Roche, Federation Operations Coordinator for Eastern and Southern Africa regions; phone: +41.22.730.4400; email: john.roche@ifrc.org