The Humanitarian A Uganda Red Cross Society quarterly publication April-June 2009 Lira district health worker and URCS board member Mr. Obalim Christopher immunizing children during the supplemental polio campaign at Alebtong health centre in Lira 2 The Humanitarian April‐June 2009 Word from Editor Contents Imagine a world without Red Cross Red Crescent! During this quarter the Red Cross Movement celebrates 150 years of the battle of Solferino. This gruesome battle which took place in Italy saw the birth of an idea, after Duanant recommended that relief societies be set up to take care of the wounded. To celebrate Solferino, over 200 youths are engaging in various activities including a walk from Solferino to Geneva in commemoration of the 150 years. On the local scene, Uganda has had to register cases of Polio in some parts of the country, after 11 years of being a polio free country. To this, Government launched supplemental immunization campaigns for polio and in addition to measles across the country to ensure that all children below 5 years are immunized. We are happy to have been part of this exercise in which government targeted 6m children. As auxiliary to Gov- Former abducted child returns to ernment, we supported in social mobilization, provision of transport for school Page 6 vaccines, medical equipment and health workers to the immunization cen- tres. The National Society is grateful to the over 8, 000 volunteers and staff deployed for the two campaigns. Some parts of the World are experiencing threats of H1N1 Influenza. To that effect, Uganda Red Cross Society launched its Humanitarian Pan- demic Preparedness Programme (H2P) to prepare communities incase of any influenza. Implementation of the project started a year ago. Working closely with the Ministry of Health, URCS is undertaking a number of activities in this line. The effects of climate change have not spared some parts of the country. Teso sub region in Eastern and Karamoja sub region in North Eastern Uganda are some of the areas experiencing drought, famine. URCS through its food security programme continues to distribute seeds and Uganda Red Cross wins PR tools to communities to enable them plant food for current and future awards page 11 consumption. The NS continues to respond to small disasters that have increasingly spread across the country. Victims of the disasters ranging from fires, Branches conduct high level dis- floods, hail storms and land slides have received emergency kits (non food semination sessions pages 5 and 7 items) like tarpaulins , kitchen set, soap, jerry can, among others. We salute our partners and stakeholders who supported our activities and interventions in the quarter. Our Mission Editorial team: To improve the quality of life Design Layout: Catherine Ntabadde, Senior Public of the most vulnerable people Relations Officer as an effective and efficient humanitarian organization. Editorial Adviser: Hasifa Kabejja, Assistant Commu‐ Our Vision nications Officer. An empowered, healthy and Photos: Catherine Ntabadde, Hasifa Kabejja, George self sustaining community Nkugwa, Albino Odongo, Loice Kasande, George that responds to the needs of Orochi and Bob Ssebuliba. the most vulnerable. 3 The Humanitarian April‐June 2009 Mbarara Branch Mbarara constructs shopping mall for income Generating By Thecelah Ndagire -ple in the community, the branch conducted youth exchange visits. The senior exchange visit Income Generating Activity was between Ntare School and Bweranyangi Girls S.S. The junior exchange program conducted lo- As a way to raise income, the Mbarara branch came up with vari- cally was at Lugazi Progressive Junior School. The ous projects which include construction of a shopping mall and theme of the exchange was “Young people the canteen. Future of Tomorrow in addressing humanitarian needs in vulnerable community.” During this visit a series of activities were done as social interaction, dissemination, sports and debates. The branch office in Mbarara University also hosted a four day junior youth camp. The camp was conducted under the theme “Young people Agents for Protecting Human Dignity”. The camp was the first of its kind in Mbarara Branch. The camp fire was graced by the presence of the Chair- man Branch Governing Board Mr. Webaale Pat- rick. A section of the shopping mall still under construction Dissemination Early this year, the branch was able to finish its ground floor sto- ried shopping mall project situated at Rwebikona in Mbarara. Between January-March 2009, the Branch recruited The complete ground floor is being rented out at 300,000/ per 56 senior youth, 12 life members, junior youth 94 nd month. The 2 phase of construction started in June 2009. totaling to 162. The quarterly target of the Branch Youth Empowerment which is 150 members was exceeded due to active mobilization, planning and activity creation that In a bid to develop and retain youth as the most active volunteer brought every one on board. force to respond to their vulnerabilities and needs of other peo- Message from the Secretary General Dear readers, with much pleasure the URCS shares with you the highlights of its activi- ties for the second quarter 2009. The Society commenced the review of its strategic with the support of our partners and the Department of Social Work and Social Administration of Makerere University. Specific programme reviews were also done for Health and Care programmes and the youth and volunteer management programme. We were also able to complete the audit exercise for financial year 2008. A number of new Initiatives/Partnerships were developed during the period. Turn to page 4 Mr. Michael Richard Nataka 4 The Humanitarian April‐June 2009 Message from Secretary General From page 3 In Health and Care; We participated in the Mass In Disaster management; Disaster Risk reduction Measles/ Polio Campaign with the Ministry of health in Projects have been started in Kisoro, Entebbe 25 districts. In addition we have established partner- and Paliisa to be funded by the Swedish, Danish ship with the Rotary Club on immunization. and American Red Cross societies worth A number of health emergencies were handled in- 1,500,000,000 billion over three years. cluding meningitis in West Nile and cholera in Kasese with over Shs500,000, 000 million spent. Climate change initiatives have continued through networking with several partners and Japanese Red Cross support to Reproductive Health the parliamentary committee on climate “mama bag Kits”project will commence with a visit change. We have continued to receive support from the Japanese Red Cross with a view of establish- from the climate change center in the Hague. ing a three-year programme. Food Security initiatives in Karamoja have taken URCS has submitted a proposal for a partnership with root and a comprehensive assessment made. Compassion International to partner with all churches An appeal was made to the IFRC Zone office in on the issues of blood collection to reduce recurrent Nairobi of mid term food security. blood shortages. With support from Oxfam, an extension of the A malaria Hang Up and Keep Up project by American community based disaster management pro- Red Cross worth 287,000USD was started with the sign- jects from Bundibugyo to Kasese branches has ing of the project agreement. URCS was also granted been made. an extension of the civil society fund for one year worth 700,000,000 million for 2009/2010 for HIV/AIDS activities. Food security and water and sanitation project proposals through the German Red Cross for Apac/ Oyam were developed. In Organizational Development; A proposal to EU for Karamoja with Danish Red Cross focusing on func- tional adult literacy and vocational training was sub- Trainings and partnership with the command mitted. centre for disaster management that has been established with government. Discussions have been held with the police (operations) on com- We commenced on Initiatives for capacity building munication during emergencies and how URCS and peace building for the OD department with sup- can respond. port from British Red Cross and Liberian and Sierra Leone Red Cross societies. We signed an agreement with German Red Cross to start a volunteers’ pro- The URCS VHF Repeater has now been re- gramme in September 2009. installed at Kololo after getting permission from Inspector General of Police Preparations were also started for the long-term Dan- ish Red Cross Youth exchange programming. The tracing programme and restoration of family links network has been revitalized and coopera- tion with ICRC improved in this programme to We participated in a number of international events in support all tracing needs in the country as well Geneva, France, Germany, Kenya, Ethiopia, USA, as request from abroad. Spain, Italy, Finland, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the NEPARC board meeting was hosted by URCS. We have developed emergency fund guidelines The proposed headquarter master plan was redes- as well as the response protocols to streamline igned and detailed BOQ’s, structural designs have URCS response mechanisms. been made. 5 The Humanitarian April‐June 2009 Rakai Branch Fire guts 157 households, victims supported By George Nkugwa residents and promised sup- port to all Red Cross activities Following the fire disas- in the area. ter which completely The exercise was supervised burnt 157 households at by the Mr. Salongo Lule Kasensero landing site Branch Chairperson and the in Rakai district, Uganda Mr. Kitala Vincent Branch Red Cross Society Vice chairperson BGB. (URCS) Rakai branch carried out an assess- While distributing, first prior- ment which required ity was given to extremely assistance to the af- vulnerable individuals who fected victims. included pregnant mothers, breast feeding mothers, the In response to the as- elderly persons, people with sessment, URCS head- disabilities, orphans and vul- quarter released Non nerable children and People food items as a contri- Living with HIV/Aids.