|  First
Aid is the foremost service provided
by the International Red Cross Movement
since its inception. Nepal Red Cross
has also followed this established
ideal and rendering its First Aid
services since its inception. The
Society is providing First Aid services
to needy people in time of accidents
and other incidents at different levels.
It is also organizing and running
various activities through integrated
programmes of the Junior Red Cross
circles functioning in the middle
schools.
As
per the resolutions adopted in the
Asia-Pacific regional conference of
Red Cross held in 1993 in Beijing,
NRCS is conducting Community Based
First Aid (CBFA) since 1996 in Nepal
encompassing the health problems of
the community into the conventional
first aid. Mainly, this programme
has four components: First Aid, Health
Promotion and Education, Disaster
Preparedness and Organizational Development.
CBFA
Programme Objective
To build capacity
of the communities to promote their
health and manage injuries and illness
as well as prepare for and deal with
disaster.
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Expected
Results |
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To establish first aid service
through volunteers in the community |
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Promote an enabling
environment to practice positive
health behavior |
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Communities are
organized and prepared for probable
disaster |
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Red Cross district
chapters, sub-branches at local
level are capable in promoting
and managing CBFA activities towards
community. |
Coverage &
Beneficiaries
This programme has been implemented
in 37 VDC of 14 districts since 1997.
The populations of 37 VDCs are benefited
by program's developmental and service
activities. This program has 225 CBFA
trainers within 52 districts and 812
CBFA volunteers at 14 districts.
Emergency First
Aid (EFA) Program:
Since 2001, NRCS is organizing activities
to provide Emergency First Aid Service
in the conflict affected districts
and areas where heavy casualties may
take place at a time because of a
certain unexpected events. The first
aid service and other relevant activities
related to this program have contributed
to disseminate International Humanitarian
Law (IHL) and create awareness on
proper use of Red Cross emblem and
it has enhance the image of Nepal
Red Cross Society in Nepal. Developing
Emergency First Aid providers at local
level and distribution of first aid
kits for prompt response to address
the needs during emergencies are the
main activities of this program.
Objective of EFA
The general objective of this programme
is to build up capacity of the district
chapters to provide emergency health
service to the victims affected by
internal armed conflict in neutral,
impartial and independent basis. Nepal
Red Cross society has the capacity
and capability to deliver emergency
Health and relief Assistance on an
impartial basis to the victims of
the internal armed conflict.
 Major
Activities of EFA
- First Aid Trainers Training
- Basic EFA Volunteers Training
- Incentives distribution to trained
volunteer and trainers
- IEC materials development and
distribution
- First Aid Kit to volunteers and
trainers
- Review meetings.
Coverage and Beneficiaries
EFA programme has been implemented
in 30 VDCs of 11 districts. The populations
of 30 VDCs are benefited by different
activities of this program. 102 Emergency
first aid trainers and 633 emergency
first aid volunteers has been trained
in 11 districts through this program.
 First
Aid Training Standardization (FATS)
Program:
After the establishment of NRCS
the activities related to First Aid
of the society for last 40 years,
when examined with a view of time
factor, nature, quality, and standard
increased diversification and complications
are found in them. Considering these
factors, it is realized that call
of time is the need of improvement
on one hand and on the other organizationally
speaking standardization of the First
Aid program integrated in other programs
of the society. At the same time,
it is also realized that there is
need of establishing a standard and
quality of First Aid training conducted
by the society at different levels.
Considering all these factors and
realizing the need to make first aid
service activities uniform, standard,
updated, well managed and effective,
NRCS has been implementing First Aid
Training Standardization (FATS) Program
from year 2003.
 Objective
of FATS Program
The capacity of NRC NHQs. is improved
in managing and giving first aid service
with improved training activities
in a sustainable way.
Expected outputs
FA Section at NRCS NHQs. established
and equipped
FA training standardized
Capable trained manpower at different
levels prepared and placed
FA materials for promotional activities
developed and FA advocacy and sensitization
activities conducted
Cooperation with different stakeholders
is increased
Main Activities
- Survey on existing situation
of NRCS FA
- FA Policy development
- FA manual and trainer guide publish
- FA TOT and Volunteers trainings
- IEC material development and distribution
- FA competition and FA day, Trained
Manpower development at different
level, Data base preparation
- Dissemination and marketing activities
of First aid
- FA kit and promotional materials
development
- Cooperation, advocacy and reviews
Coverage and Beneficiaries
 FATS
programme has been implemented in
12 districts of Nepal. This programme
will be expanded through out the country
gradually in coming years. At the
initial phase it is planned to implement
in 30 districts.
During the course of implementation
of this program after consultative
meetings with district chapters and
different stakeholders it was realized
that the policy and procedure of NRCS
must be reviewed for effective implementation
of first aid activities to address
the health need of the vulnerable
communities. Then, Central Executive
Committee of NRCS has adopted its
modified, updated and integrated version
of the existing policy entitling it
as NRCS First Aid Policy – 2003
(2060).
This policy
has focused:
- To expand the first aid service
by providing standard services to
the vulnerable persons and community
as per their need,
- To establish uniformity in the
first aid trainings provided by
NRCS,
- To promote first aid program and
strengthen its management,
- To make the First Aid program
of NRCS in accord with the standard
fixed by national institutions and
International Red Cross movement.
Progresses of FATS
program;
- Revision, updating and printing
first aid policy of NRCS, Revision
and development of Basic First Aid
course curriculum, Basic First aid
providers/volunteer manual, First
aid trainer manual, First aid training
coordinator manual,
- Development of Station charts
for practical stations, Transparencies
pack for first aid training, Training
kit bag for first aid training and
Information, Education and Communication
(IEC) materials.
- Different level worshops/meeting
to develop and draft first aid materials
and field tests to revise volunteers
manual and trainers manuals,
- Two trainers training for 12
districts to develop new trainers
with updated knowledge and skill
on first aid, 49 first aid trainers
developed through these trainings.
- 14 Basic First aid training at
12 districts to develop trained
first aid provider/volunteers based
on new curriculum, 288 first aid
volunteers trained through these
trainings.
- Establishment of new evaluation
systems in first aid trainings,
- Established recognized certification
process for first aid trainers and
volunteers. Each certificate is
valid up to 3 years. It will be
renewed after tests and follow up
course within 3 years.
- Production of income generating
materials such as first aid kits,
first aid badge, first aid T-shirts
and first aid caps.
| Some
expressed examples of initiatives
and outputs of this program,
which were expressed by
different people during
the evaluations of program
is mentioned here.
The local health post
of Ranitar VDC of Panchthar
district has experienced
that volunteers of the
area are so efficient
in their work that it
is not hard to identify
from where the patient
has come. Works done by
the volunteers itself
indicates that the patient
is whether from CBFA area
or not. They apply bandages
correctly, make Stretchers
properly to take patients
to the health center and
keep patient conveniently.
It means CBFA volunteers’
accomplishment has been
turned out in practical
fields.
The Toilet construction
campaigns in Duwagadi
VDC of Jhapa initiated
in 1998 is a model of
the local resource mobilization
under CBFA program. First,
CBFA volunteers and Sub-Branch
launched awareness-building
campaign. Community people
were motivated to construct
toilets. The District
Chapter coordinated with
District Drinking Water
and Sanitation Office
to provide materials (ring)
and training local people
for constructing toilet
pits. The District Chapter
contributed Rs.5000 to
this program. One toilet
could be constructed at
Rs.750, a price majority
could afford. Community
people participated encouragingly,
31 permanent and 17 temporary
toilets were constructed
that year.
The Health Post In Charge
of Nakatipur VDC of Saptari
District ('B' area of
CBFA) said that- "
We've been benefited by
CBFA volunteers because
they are effective in
disseminating our massages
(like Polio Immunization
and other activities)
and also motivate people
to visit Health Post in
case of health problems.
We also help them by providing
Jeevan Jals and some bandages."
The VDC chairperson of
Haldibari VDC of Jhapa
("B" area of
CBFA) expressed very positive
opinions on the volunteers.
" They are doing
good works, we should
always motivate them"-
He said. Dodhara VDC of
Kanchanpur District has
decided to help the disaster
victims recommended by
the local CBFA Volunteers.
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|
 First
Aid for all:
Nepal Red Cross also has been offering
its first aid trainings for different
organizations and institutions to
train their staff and volunteer members
on first aid. It has already trained
more than 600 staff and volunteer
members of different organization
such as GTZ, DED, UNICEF, MS-Nepal,
USAID, Canadian Cooperation Office,
US Embassy, Standard Chartered Bank,
Garments industries, Surya Nepal and
many others.
You can write at cbfa@nrcs.org
if you or your organization is interested
to join NRCS first aid course, which
is recognized by International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
and Health Ministry of HMG Nepal.
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