Red Cross At The International Trade Fair example essay topic

CHAPTER ONE 1.0. Introduction This report is about the Tanzania Red Cross written after community service fieldwork by eleven students from the East African Uongozi Institute, between 04th and 10th July, 2002. The Community service involved working with the Red Cross in the Dar es salaam International Trade Fair [DIFF] which was on at the time and we were allocated to work at the Red Cross tents at the Fair ground to help administer first aid to any causalities. The East African Uongozi Institute is an international Cooperation and collaboration primarily involving four institution of higher learning. The University of Dar es Salaam, the University of Nairobi, the Maker ere University and the University of California at Los Angeles.

One of the main activities of the Institute is to conduct Uongozi School for leadership development. The 'maiden voyage' of the first Uongozi school took place in the summer of 1998. Every year, the school rotates between the three East African countries. University students from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, North America, and other African countries attend the programme each year. A community service component is included in the programme to enable students to translate theory into practice and to appreciate the fact that leadership is not just the exercise power but also to serve people. 1.1.

Background to the study Red Cross is a worldwide movement working towards the alleviation of human suffering through the power of humanity. It was first established by Henri Dunant, Swiss businessman. He was on a business trip, when he felt touched by the victims of a war between France and Italy. He saw how the soldiers needed treatment, the women and the children too were wounded and needed food and clothing.

He took them to a nearby clinic for treatment at his own expense. When he returned to Switzerland, he sold the idea to his friends who also sold it to others. These initiatives resulted into a society aimed at helping people during war. Since the Swiss flag host a white cross they decided to symbolism the society by a red cross. Hence, the Red Cross Society is represented by a red cross inside a white background (see appendix 1). The headquarters of the movement is in Geneva, Switzerland.

However, some countries especially those not of a Christian origin did not like to use the symbol of the cross. During the war between Turkey and Russia, The Red Cross Society could not enter Turkey so the society decided to give an alternative of the Red Crescent (see appendix 2). The movement was then the movement established the federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent [IFRC]. However, these are not different entities, they only have different titles and any country is free to choose any one of the symbols at the time of signing for membership. The Red Cross in Tanzania. The Tanzania Red Cross Society which was established by the Tanganyika Red Cross Society Act No. 71 of 1962, is part of this world wide movement The Society in order to run its operations smoothly and render humanitarian services to the level acceptable, has set up four (4) departments: .

Relief, . Logistics, . Health. Finance and the Administration. The logistics department: is headed by the logistics coordinator and assisted by Field logistic Coordinators is further divided by four sub-departments: transport, workshop, warehousing and procurement.

Relief Department Then there is the relief department which the victim is normally massaged with liniment, after which bandage is tied around the sprained area. For wounds or cuts iodine is applied (the wound or cut area), after which a gauze and plaster are used to cover it. Other things in the first aid kit include gloves, and medicines like pana dol, aspirin and magnesium as pain killers. However the volunteers only do the above, they are not supposed to treat people since they are not medical personnel. For serious cases, they transfer the patients to the nearest medical centre.

For our field study in the saba saba trade fair, the Red cross always took patients with serious injuries to the Mikocheni health Education Network. All these services are offered free of charge except when the patient in question is taken to a medical centre or hospital. The Finance and Administration department is the overall in charge of all personnel and administrative matters it is complemented by the security unit which ensures security of the TRCS / IFRC assess and volunteers / delegates, the finance unit which determine and keeps track of all financial needs and movement as per approved budget, ensure proper financial transactions and records within a predetermined time. Currently, these operations are manned by at workforce of about 431 employees.

Funding of the TRCSThe source of funding for the TRCS is mainly through donation activities notably from the Canadian Red Cross, German Red Cross, Australian Red Cross among others, all through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). 1.2. Objectives of the study The general purpose of the study was to relate theory and practice of community service by the students but the more specific objectives were: . To establish the activities of the TRCS. To serve the community as potential leaders. To find out the challenges that TRCS is facing.

To come up with possible ways of over-coming the challenges identified in the study. 1.3. Scope of the study Geographically, the study was carried out in the headquarter of the TRCS in Up anga, Dar es Salaam from where we were allocated to work with the Red Cross at the International Trade Fair which was going on. At the trade fair grounds, tents had been set up form and we were stationed in these tents waiting for information about any casualties. Within this place and time, we dealt with some causalities to whom, with the Red cross volunteers already there, we administered first aid. Some tents were in within the trade fair grounds while others were in the Voda village where a children's football pitch was. The number of cases attended to on the 4th July was 8, on 5th, there were 12 cases, on 6th there were 8, on 7th there were 4 and on 8th there were 6.

We did not go back to the Trade Fair Ground because the TRCS was ceasing to offer its services to the saba saba on the 6th, so we went to the headquarters. On the time dimension, the community services was carried out form the 4th to the 10th July 2002. CHAPTER TWO 2.0. Methodology The data was basically qualitatively we employed interviews, focus group discussions (FGDS), participation, observation and literature review; Four volunteers, two scouts and two first aiders - Hamish Ramadan and D audi Rap hile were interviewed in the trade fair. The FGDS were mainly with Dr. Ogweno, the assistant medical Patron of Mikocheni Mission Hospital and Mrs Stella Marrealle, the regional Coordinator for the TRCS in Dar es Salaam.

Participation involved taking part in administering first aid to casualties. Observation involved watching some of the TRCS volunteer in active first aid work. Literature review involved reading some newsletters and CD-ROM from TRCS headquarters. 2.1. Research findings: During the study, the participants were able to establish and even familiaris e themselves with the activities carried out by the TRCS.

We also managed to establish the challenges that the TRCS is facing, also their future plans. 2.1. 0. Activities of the TRCSThe TRCS has many established activities and also programmes / projects that are being implemented. These range from the Tracing programme, First and Refugee programme, Health care projects, strengthening of first training programme to organising of blood donations. These are explained below.

The tracing programme covers civilians, armed forces detainees, missing persons and refugees who have lost contact wile their families. The TRCS ties to re-unite them and facilitate their communication with their families. The programme is usually carried out in times of conflict (internal and external) when there are international disturbances and sessions, when postal communication is broken off, travelling is impossible and when intentional diplomatic relations are broken. The programme is currently underway for all the refugee camps in the form of cross-border re-union, mass tracing and exchange of messages between the camps. The whole process involves filling a form, providing applicative of oneself which the Red Cross Society takes to every camp to be identified by possible relatives. For children who may lose contact with their parents while still so young, the TRCS takes their picture and displays these in every refugee camp...

The first aid programme was started in 1948 and is exercised in all the active branches. First aid is administered to people who say faint, suddenly fall sick, or get accidents. This explains why the TRCS always puts up tents in public gatherings like football matches and other sports allies, and trade fairs - is always most likely there will be such causalities. For people who faint, they are made to lie down with the legs raised and they are given space to get as much fresh air (oxygen) as possible or and thus these are made to eat glucose. For sprains deals with settlement activities including supervision of grave yards, plot numbering and constructional and electricity activities which are mainly care and maintained.

The Health department offers curative and preventive services especially to refugees in form of surgeries, laboratory services and reproductive health services. The refugee relief operations As for the refugee programme, Tanzania has experienced major refugee influx for many years after independence. Since 1993, the country has hosted a large number of refugees from Burundi, Rwanda and later form DRC. Currently, there are thirteen refugee camps in Kigoma Region, Lugufu I and 14 (Keponia rural); Mtabila I and II, Muyorozi, Nyarugusu (Kasulu district), Mtendeli I and II, Kanembwa, N dutta I and Ii, Kara go and Mkugwa (Ki bondo district) about 70% of refugee are Burundian and 30% are Congolese.

An agreement signed in 1997 (17/4/2001) known as London agreement has stipulated the roles of IFRC to be advisory, supportive, monitoring and capacity building. TRCS has remained an implementer of all programmes, serving more than 156,000 refugees in five camps of Kigoma Region, Mtabila I and II, Muyogozi, Lugufu I and II. TRCS is also an implementing partner with UNHCR in N gara Kagera region serving more than 100,000 refugee in other Lu kole A and B. TRCS has contained alleviating human suffering by providing basic essential services to the beneficiaries in Kasulu Burundian refugee camps since 1997. services delivered are health in all camps, water and sanitation in Mtabila VI, camp management in Muyovozi. The operation has progressively changed from an emergency humanitarian relief operation to stable operation focusing on care and maintenance. We also managed to establish the challenges that the TRCS is facing, also their future plans and we were also able establish the technicalities of turning theory into practice. In 1994 there was a Genocide in Rwanda, as a result, Tanzania received an Influx of about 800,000 refugees from Rwanda.

At that time in Kigoma region alone, there were eleven campus with are population of about 369,936 mostly from Burundi and Rwanda (appendix 4). The TRCS ensures that there are basic necessities like food and water, which refugees get in rations, and good sanitation and security (see Appendix 5). Health care programme There is also a Health care programme in Kilimanjaro Dar es salaam and Mwanza under it. Traditional Birth attendants (TBA's) are trained wells for safe water in the rural areas are constructed and services in form of personnel is donated to health units / centres normally by the red cross members like Doctors, nurses, surgeons and counsellors. Also ante-natal clinics are also established under this programme. The health care project on HIV / AIDS in Kagera involves health education and health support and was started in 1993 with the main objective of changing people's attitudes to AIDS (some of them use to say that "AIDS has come to kill people anyway, not treat") and reduce the HIV transmission.

Blood donation programme The TRCS also engaged in organising blood donation events. Normally this is done in public places like school institutions and public gathering places. People who donate their blood are given a card, which entitles them to a unit of blood in case they fall sick in hospital. The TRCS also donate blood to victims of accidents like the ones of the train that crashed in Dodoma, and also to hospitals. The blood donated is tested for HIV / AIDS and the one that is not infected is kept for six months (window period) and then tested again to ensure the blood that goes to the blood bank is safe. The TRCS also has embarked on the programme so strengthening first aid training to many people especially after the 1998 blood blast in Dar es Salaam where many people died including those who would have survived if they had been given first aid.

There is also the programme of youth family education. The main aim was to improve health among the young by consolidating youth organisations. There is also a programme of dissemination of information about the Red Cross. This one involves telling the people what the Red Cross is, its activities, relevance, principles and objectives and generally to encourage the same people to become members. They explain about the TRCS being a voluntary society so that even as one joins it, he / she does not expect any payments for any service he / she renders. 2.1. 1.

The Guidelines of the TRCS We found out that the TRCS like the worldwide movement is guided by seven fundamental principles: Humanity, independence, universality, impartiality, neutrality, voluntarism and unity... Humanity The principle of Humanity means that the Red Cross and Red crescent movement born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavours, in its international and National capacity to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being promotes mutual understanding friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples... Impartiality The principle of impartiality means that the movement makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to most urgent cases of distress...

Independence Independence means that the national societies while auxiliaries to the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the movement... Voluntarism Voluntary service means that it is a voluntary relief movement not promoted in any manner by desire or gain. Unity means there can be only one Red Cross or one Red Crescent society in any one country. It must be open to all it must carry on its humanitarian work through out its territory... Neutrality Neutrality holds that in order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political racial, religious or ideological nature... Unity It means that there can be only one Red Cross or one Red Crescent Society in any country.

It must be open to all and carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory... Universality Universality means that the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, in which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide. 2.1. 2. Challenges faced by the TRCS- Donors fatigue / budge constraints- Lack of Internal fund raising / community awareness on red cross. - Absorption of the trained man power after PRO- Suspected rising level of HIV / AIDS in the camps (vis a vis interaction with host communities). - Decreased medical attention following endless chronic conflict situation in Burundi. 2.1.

3. Future plans of the TRCS- To recruit more members- To establish income generating activities - Train more first aiders- Train people from childhood about the Red Cross Society- Cultivate the spirit of voluntarism- Establish the East African Red Cross Society starting with the universities. CHAPTER 33.0. Gains and lessons from the study The study was of great significance to all the participants, it was a good experience to all of us. - We now know how to administer first aid, so in case any of us comes across an accident scene, we would not avoid it but instead rush in to help any causalities by giving first aid. - This practical field work enabled us to know the technicalities of applying theory to the real world.

The instructions we got from the Red Cross to go to the Trade Fair Grounds and the bureaucracy involved in getting that permission. So when anyone of us as a leader designs a policy or assigns work, we can be able to consider such factors. We have been studying in theory on for instance solutions to problems and criticising easily but now we know what to expect on the ground - rules, challenges, planning, programmes and the like. We got knowledge about the Red Cross Society which most of the members never knew before or at least not in detail for instance the tracing activities, the health programmes and refugee camps.

Now we can appreciate what the Red Cross is doing to alleviate human suffering. We realised the importance of the spirit of voluntarism, which is a fundamental principle of the Red Cross Society. We also now know the importance of principles in management and leadership. The Red Cross is operating on seven clear and successful fundamental principles. So we have learnt how important principles are for the success of any programme or organisation. Some members even joined the Red Cross Society notably Ochieng Joel Wao and Asikeit Deborah.

We even convinced other friends to become members for instance Jump Katanga and is not the end; we are now disseminators of the Red Cross since we have known much about it. Besides, the member's from the different universities have all pledged to be very active in the formulation of the East African Red Cross, which is to start at university level. 3.1. Problems encountered during the fieldwork study. Language problem. Some members did not know the Tanzanian National language (kiswahili) yet most of the secondary sources communicated better through it... Time factor.

The time we had for the study was very little (only six days and even then only in the afternoons). This meant that even if the TRCS had given us permission to go to the camps in Kigoma we would have found difficulties since just one way is over nine hours' drive. We would have liked to participate in the refugee programme. Instead we were allocated to take part only in the first aid service at the Trade Fair Grounds by the instructions from above such was an unavailable circumstance...

Situational problem We did the field work at a bad time. Given the fact that there were victims of the recent train crash in Dodoma, all the TRCS' attention was to attending to them, receiving delegates from and escorting them back to the airport (at least on all the occasions we were there). So even they admitted that they could not facilitate our study as much as they wished to. 3.2. Recommendations- Instead of relying on only donations, the TRCS should venture to some economic activities to generate funds for it like it is already contracted to clean the Kariakoo market by the government. They could for instance train company employees on first aid and the company pays them. - The government should also engage itself in Red Cross' activities like fund raising and also help the Red Cross make people aware about it (disseminate information about the Red Cross).

- The Red Cross should consider giving some incentives to the volunteers. It could for instance give transport allowance, food allowance and sleeping out allowance for delegates, instead of letting them "volunteer" even their money for costs. This would enable absorption of the trained manpower after PRO and even enhance commitment. - To minimise HIV / AIDS transmission within the camps and even to the host communities, the TRCS should try as much as possible to provide sex education to the masses and sensitize them about the disease, how it is spread / contracted, how to avoid it and its dangers. So creating awareness will help. Also, the TRCS should provide condoms for free in the camps instead of letting these people risk their lives.

On decreasing media attention, the TRCS should provide information to the media (press releases) about the situation in form of updates say monthly or weekly if possible. 3.3. Conclusion Generally, the TRCS has played a big role in as far as alleviating human suffering in Tanzania in particular and the world in general. The study we carried out impacted us a lot positively and we encourage the East African Uongozi Institute to send students to such humanitarian organisations as the TRCS. We also shall organise a blood donation together with the Red Cross Society for the 2002 Uongozi students before the end of the course and we hope that all of them as leaders in the making will understand the value of voluntarism and community service to their societies. APPENDIX 1 EMBLEM OF THE RED CROSS SOCIETY APPENDIX 2 EMBLEM OF THE RED CRESCENT APPENDIX 3 RED CROSS REGIONAL CENTERS IN TANZANIA KEY: q RED CROSS REGIONAL CENTER APPENDIX 4 REFUGEE STATISTIC IN KIGOMA AS EPR 31st DECEMBER 2001 (UNHCR) DISTRICT CAMP POPULATION ORIGINALITYKIBONDO MTENDELIKANEMBWANDUTAMKUGWAKARAGHO 47, 74418, 56947,811 1, 72437,588 BURUNDIANSBURUNDIANSBURUNDIANSMIXEDBURUNDIANSKASULU NYARUGUSUMTABILA MTABILA IIMUYOYOSI 52, 18915, 88339, 89437,627 CONGOLESEBURUNDIANSBURUNDIANSBURUNDIANSKIGOMA RURAL LUGUFU LUGUFU II 52, 77618,131 CONGOLESECONGOLESETOTAL 369,936 APPENDIX 5 ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BY THE RED CROSS IN KASULU OPERATIONAL BASE 119 KILOMETERS FROM KIGOMA TOWN CAMP REFUGEE POPULATION ACTIVITIESMUYOVOZI 37,627 Camp management, curative, reproductive Health education, Nutrition services, water and sanitation MTABILA I 15,883 Curative, community health education, reproductive health and Nutrition services.

MTABILA II 39,894 Curative, water production and distribution sanitation (provision of latrine slabs) community Health education, reproductive health, and nutrition services. TOTAL 93,404.