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Health work

Andreas von Weissenberg
Image: Andreas von Weissenberg

Health is perceived broadly as a state of physical, mental and social well-being in the work of the Finnish Red Cross. Health work focuses at the needs and threats related to the health and well-being of people and their communities.

Community-based health and first aid (CBHFA)

Community-based Health and First Aid (CBHFA) is an approach developed in cooperation with national Red Cross organisations in which the communities assess their own needs and reach their goals through combined efforts.

Lue lisää -linkit: 
Volunteer manual for Community-based health and first aid in action (CBHFA)
Anthony Mwang

Water, sanitation and hygiene

Lack of clean water and toilets combined with poor hygiene awareness is one of the most important causes of disease – and very often also a common cause of death. Clean water alone is not enough. Toilets, sewers and hand-washing are also always needed.

Lue lisää -linkit: 
Participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation: A new approach to working with communities
SPR

Infectious diseases

IFRC

Health of mothers and children

For the past 20 years, the Red Cross has been actively working, planning, initiating and implementing development cooperation programmes and introducing programme initiatives in order to improve the health of mothers and children.

Lue lisää -linkit: 
WHO Fact sheets : Reproductive health
Making pregnancy safer
Ari Räsänen

Psychological support

Psychological support (psychosocial support) has gained an important position next to traditional humanitarian aid. In addition to providing shelter, nutrition, water and basic healthcare, the psychological recovery from crises and disasters is emphasised more and more.

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Henkisen tuen referenssikeskus
Mental Health and Psychosocial Network
The Psychosocial Working Group
IASC Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Humanitarian Emergencies
Psychosocial interventions – a handbook
MSF Mental Health Guidelines
WHO brochure on Mental and Social Aspects of Health of Populations Exposed to Extreme Stressors
Taru Tuohiniemi

Blood donation

The Red Cross supports voluntary blood donation without compensation. Regular donors are the basis of a safe and sustainable distribution system of blood products, providing blood to those who need it.

IFRC

Health in times of disaster

Every year, disasters endanger the lives and health of millions of people. The Red Cross works continuously to reduce disease and deaths and to improve health and human dignity in catastrophes.

Lue lisää -linkit: 
100,000 cases - The spectre of cholera remains in Zimbabwe
IFRC

First Aid

The Red Cross is the world's leading first aid operator both in providing aid as well as training. First aid is often included in development cooperation programmes: first aid skills are taken to schools, women's groups or to the entire community as a part of disaster preparedness.