Major natural and man-made disasters, emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases remain a constant threat to the people of Myanmar, endangering the health status of populations, especially those most vulnerable such as children.

MRCS plays a supportive role to the Department of Health to address the most urgent public health issues in emergency situations with the aim to reduce population vulnerability and impact upon health.

In collaboration with the MRCS Disaster Management Division and DART (Disaster Assessment and Response Team) activities, the health team aims to strengthen the MRCS capacity of health assessment, preparedness and response in emergency situations.

Components and Activities

General Objective
Reduce the risks and impact upon health in emergency situations.

I. Emergency Health Care

Specific Objective
To strengthen MRCS (HQ and Branches) capacity to be prepared for public health in emergencies.

Activities
- Emergency Health Care Task Force Training for States and Divisions
- Stockpiling of Emergency Health Care Kits
- Field Health Assessment in collaboration with Disaster Management Division
- Emergency Health Care Service Support for First Aid, psychological support and health care
- Support safe drinking water supplies and community education for environmental sanitation, hygiene promotion and diseases prevention in disaster-affected areas

Target Beneficiaries
Disaster and emergency affected populations, individuals and families

Project Timeline
2005 - on-going

Project Site
- As required
- Priority disaster-prone township in States and Divisions : Rakhine, Ayeyarwaddy, Tanintharyi, Yangon

Partner Agency
Funding - IFRC

Collaborative - DoH

Trained RCVs
211 RCVs

II. Epidemic/Disease Outbreak Prevention

Specific Objective
To respond appropriately to health consequences during epidemics and disasters.

Activities
- Avian Influenza (AI) preparedness and prevention Communication Training of RCVs in all States and Divisions
- Stockpiling of Personal Protrctive Equipment (PPE) materials in case of need to protect against AI for MRCS Branches
- Social mobilization and community education on AI, Dengue prevention and other diseases
- Supportive IEC printing and development
- Social Mobilization for Immunization campaigns e.g. mass measles polio campaign
- Review meetings
- Field monitoring

Target Beneficiaries
Community and household members in rural and urban areas at risk of diseases exposure to outbreak/epidemic.

Project Timeline
2005 - on-going

Target Areas
- All States and Divisions
- Areas with threat to potential disease outbreak/epidemic

Partner
Funding - IFRC

Collaborative - WHO, UNICEF, DoH, LBVD