IFRC Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Care in Communities

What is IFRC’s role in promoting and protecting the Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health of communities?

Community-Based Health Workers (CBHWs) have been instrumental in connecting community members to health services and in improving the health of mothers, newborns and children by promoting vaccination uptake, breastfeeding and education on infectious diseases and making referrals for emergency obstetric care. CBHW programmes increase contraceptive usage, especially where unmet need is high, access is low and geographic or social barriers to use of services exists.

Read more herehttps://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/IFRC_CIC_Guidelines_EN_20200212_Web.pdf

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How to ensure of Care in Communities (CiC) programmes?

In some countries, the government has recognized the success of National Society activities and has taken on their funding (for example the TB programme in India and the malaria programme in Myanmar). Having the government directly fund National Societies to carry out CIC activities will ensure sustainability and demonstrate a win-win situation for all parties.

At times, governments are not in a position to fund Red Cross Red Crescent projects, having limited funds for health to begin with. In such circumstances, the activities of CIC projects could become integrated into the health system itself and be directly funded by the health system.

Read more herehttps://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/IFRC_CIC_Guidelines_EN_20200212_Web.pdf

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Quality Assurance in Care in Communities programs?

Quality of care depends on a combination of the following:

(1) Selecting qualified and willing volunteers and CBHWs

(2) Appropriate initial and ongoing training for CBHWs

(3) Supportive supervision of volunteers and CBHWs

(4) A functioning referral programme

(5) Improving M&E

(6) Introducing innovative approaches to the efficient delivery of health services including:

• Cash transfer programming: This is being increasingly used in humanitarian response and helps remove financial barriers to health services.

• mHealth, information and communication technologies

Read more herehttps://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/IFRC_CIC_Guidelines_EN_20200212_Web.pdf

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While data collection by CBHWs can serve a variety of purposes – for example, surveillance or research – a key objective in data collection in Care in Communities is for assessing improvements in service delivery and CBHWs’ performance itself.

Data on CBHW performance as well as programme indicators need to be built into a simplified Health Management Information System (HMIS).

Indicators for reporting should be decided by the National Society in conjunction with the government health authorities.

Programme indicators that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART criteria) and allow measurement of results at all levels (input, output, outcomes and impact) should be used.

Read more herehttps://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/IFRC_CIC_Guidelines_EN_20200212_Web.pdf

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Effective recruitment and selection can improve the performance of Community Based Health Workers (CBHWs) and the quality of services delivered.

Selection of volunteers typically follows the National Society’s recruitment policies and are aligned with formal health systems. Read about South Sudan Red Crescent Society’s recruitment criteria in selecting home health providers (HHPs) for their communities:

• Permanent resident of the community; accepted by the community.

• Women highly encouraged (at least one per team must be a woman), gender equity appropriate to ensure acceptability of services by the population or target group.

• Must speak the local language/dialect of the community.

• Literate and have numeric skills for reporting, training and meetings.

• Have the commitment to serve the community as HHP on a voluntary basis, and have personal attributes such as trustworthiness, respect, kindness, and empathy.

• CBHWs: population ratio: one HHP per 30—40 households in densely populated areas (urban) or two HHPs (one woman and one man per village) in sparsely populated areas (rural).

Read more here https://www.ifrc.org/document/care-communities-guidelines

Care in Communities Guidelines | IFRC Our in-depth guidance for National Societies on how to implement effective community-based health care programmes and adapt them to diverse contexts. The guidance will help National Societies to work hand-in-hand with governments and communities.

As community-based humanitarian organizations and auxiliaries to the public authorities, National Societies are well-positioned to strengthen the link between marginalized and vulnerable communities and the formal health system through their CBHWs in diverse settings. The National Societies are in a unique position to support CIC programmes in close collaboration with health authorities, communities and health systems and to train and empower volunteers and CBHWs to confront health-related challenges.

Read more here https://www.ifrc.org/document/care-communities-guidelines

Care in Communities Guidelines | IFRC Our in-depth guidance for National Societies on how to implement effective community-based health care programmes and adapt them to diverse contexts. The guidance will help National Societies to work hand-in-hand with governments and communities.

Who are Community-Based Health Workers?

Community-based health workers (CBHWs) include trained Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers or members of the community working in association with local health care systems. They are cost-effective in treating TB, malaria, HIV/AIDS, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), neglected tropical diseases and conditions related to reproductive, maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health.

CBHWs are relevant in all settings and in LMICs are engaged in promoting safe birth and exclusive breastfeeding, screening, management and follow-up of uncomplicated childhood illnesses, malaria, TB, HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and NCDs, facilitating access to health services and supporting palliative and rehabilitative services.

In high- and middle-income countries, they play an important role in NCD prevention and curative services, home-based care of older persons as well as community outreach for remote communities, migrant and refugee populations.

Read more here https://www.ifrc.org/document/care-communities-guidelines

Care in Communities Guidelines | IFRC Our in-depth guidance for National Societies on how to implement effective community-based health care programmes and adapt them to diverse contexts. The guidance will help National Societies to work hand-in-hand with governments and communities.

While has been adopted globally, there still remains wide disparities in health indicators between countries and within countries. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), the challenges are related to lack of quality of health services and inadequate financial protection coverage for significant portions of the population. In high-income countries, challenges are related to sustaining and expanding the gains already achieved.

Read more here https://www.ifrc.org/document/care-communities-guidelines

Care in Communities Guidelines | IFRC Our in-depth guidance for National Societies on how to implement effective community-based health care programmes and adapt them to diverse contexts. The guidance will help National Societies to work hand-in-hand with governments and communities.

What role do Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and their volunteers play in strengthening community health?

Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers have a personal understanding of people’s needs, circumstances and of the overall social context. As community-based humanitarian organizations which are auxiliaries to the public authorities, IFRC National Societies are well positioned to strengthen the links between vulnerable communities, their volunteers and the formal health system.

Read more here: https://www.ifrc.org/document/care-communities-guidelines

Care in Communities Guidelines | IFRC Our in-depth guidance for National Societies on how to implement effective community-based health care programmes and adapt them to diverse contexts. The guidance will help National Societies to work hand-in-hand with governments and communities.

Over one billion people cannot use the health services they need because they are either unavailable or unaffordable. Health workforce deficiencies, inadequate distribution and quality and performance challenges represent some of the main obstacles to the scaling up of essential health interventions.

Addressing these challenges is essential for progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3 to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” and to guarantee Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Read more about our Care in Communities Guidelines here https://www.ifrc.org/document/care-communities-guidelines

Care in Communities Guidelines | IFRC Our in-depth guidance for National Societies on how to implement effective community-based health care programmes and adapt them to diverse contexts. The guidance will help National Societies to work hand-in-hand with governments and communities.

Are you familiar with our organization’s “life-course” approach?

The life course approach states that each stage of an individual’s life – from infancy to old age – influences the next stage.

The social, economic and physical settings where an individual works, lives and plays across their life course has a huge impact on their health and the health of those around them. As per the , the life course approach is a holistic way to optimize people’s health and well-being throughout life and interlinks with human capital and sustainable development.

Almost 70 per cent of and mental illnesses in later life are associated with exposures to risks and inequities in earlier years. The benefits and returns of the life course approach to health is 10 times more with increased effectiveness, efficiency and equity.

Read more about our life-course approach in our Care in Communities guidelines herehttps://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/IFRC_CIC_Guidelines_EN_20200212_Web.pdf

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Are you familiar with the term “Task shifting”?

involves the rational redistribution of tasks among health workforce teams.

According to , task shifting “presents a viable solution for improving healthcare coverage by making more efficient use of the human resources already available and by quickly increasing capacity while training and retention programmes are expanded”.

Specific tasks are delegated, where appropriate, from highly qualified health workers to health workers with shorter training and fewer qualifications. Task shifting includes various scenarios, such as substituting tasks among professionals, delegating tasks to professionals with less training (including creating a new cadre), delegating tasks to non-professionals, or a combination of these.

Read more about the work of IFRC in mobilizing its volunteers and community-based health workers in facilitating this task shifting process to improve the health of communities and strengthen health systems.
https://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/IFRC_CIC_Guidelines_EN_20200212_Web.pdf

www.ifrc.org

The developed a reference guide for home-based care during COVID-19 which provides recommendations to nonprofits, the Red Cross Red Crescent network and community organizations who are designing programs and materials in response to in low- and middle-income countries. It focuses on three main areas:

- how to support a person whose condition warrants home care because of non-severe symptoms and home care is recommended by local jurisdictions;

- how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the home;

- and how to provide emotional support to family members.

Read more here https://www.ifrc.org/document/home-based-care-reference-guide-chws-during-covid-19

Home-Based Care Reference Guide for CHWs during COVID 19 | IFRC This guide provides recommendations to nonprofits, the Red Cross Red Crescent network and community organizations who are designing programs and materials in response to COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries. It focuses on three main areas: how to support a person whose condition warrants hom...

Did you know: the IFRC develops in-depth guidelines for National Societies on how to implement effective community-based health care programmes and adapt them to diverse contexts! The guidance may help National Societies to work hand-in-hand with public authorities and communities to strengthen public health.

Click here to read more! https://www.ifrc.org/document/care-communities-guidelines

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Care in Communities Guidelines | IFRC Our in-depth guidance for National Societies on how to implement effective community-based health care programmes and adapt them to diverse contexts. The guidance will help National Societies to work hand-in-hand with governments and communities.

The IFRC presents its official page dedicated to showcasing its initiatives and work in Care in Communities at the Secretariat and in 192-Member Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies.

Through our Care in Communities programme, we train community-based health workers and volunteers to deliver essential community health services. In doing so, we are addressing the global shortage of health care workers and contributing to the universal health coverage (UHC) agenda.

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