Appeal Target: CHF 6,705,034 (USD 4.96 million / EUR 4.3 million)
Budget revised to CHF 6,179,155 (USD 4.6million / EUR 4 million) with this update (please see attached)
Period covered: June - September 2003
The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 180 countries. For more information: www.ifrc.org
In Brief
Appeal coverage: For a live update, please click below: http://www.ifrc.org/cgi/pdf_appeals.pl?annual03/1-2-3%20-%20ap018603.pdf
Summary: The Red Crescent Society in Tajikistan, with the Federation's support, continued to implement activities as outlined in the Annual Appeal 2003. In addition, they responded to the needs of vulnerable people in Sughd, after heavy rainfalls that had a devastating effect on the population. The Red Crescent, in cooperation with government agencies and international partners, took the lead to help affected people with safe water and emergency non-food items.
Although overall response to the appeal is good, some projects still experience a severe lack of funding. Considering this variance of income for different projects under the appeal, the Federation in cooperation with the National Society, adjusted the original plan of action and revised the budget. The budget was reduced to CHF 6,179,155.
Health and care
Goal: The role of the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan in health care and water and sanitation is increased to improve the general health of the population.
This section includes two programme components: 1) Health and Care; 2) Water and Sanitation.
Health and Care
Objective: By the end of 2003, the capacity of the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan to improve access to basic health care services is increased through prevention and education, first aid, HIV/AIDS education and TB care at the community level as well as assistance to primary health care institutions.
Progress:
Expected result 1: Targeted communities in four regions (Khatlon, RRS, GBAO and Sughd) have increased household awareness of preventing common diseases and basic health care, through health education carried out by RCST volunteers.
The Red Crescent Society in Tajikistan, with the Federation's support, conducted 22 workshops on health promotion in Dushanbe and four regions for 465 Red Crescent volunteers.
Volunteers in Sughd province conducted health education campaigns on diarrhea, home care for sick persons and clean water for 3,600 people. Additionally, Red Crescent volunteers provided lectures on prevention of communicable diseases for beneficiaries of two soup kitchens in Dushanbe. In total, 200 participants attended the lectures.
Activities to achieve this expected result will continue as planned. There will be no changes to the original appeal.
Expected result 2: The capacity of five regional Red Crescent branches - Dushanbe, Khatlon, RRS, GBAO and Sughd - in first aid is strengthened through the training of 1,500 volunteers.
The Red Crescent trained 465 volunteers on First Aid through 22 workshops in Dushanbe, Khatlon, RRS, GBAO and Sughd. It organised a First Aid competition in Isfara rayon of the Sughd province. 100 schoolchildren, 14 teachers and representatives of local authorit ies attended. The Red Crescent also held four meetings and 19 discussions on First Aid with 180 people.
First Aid volunteers held education sessions with schools graduates in Kulyab on how to stop bleeding and treat burns. 100 people attended.
Activities to achieve this expected result will continue as planned. There will be no changes to the original appeal.
Expected result 3: Awareness of STD/HIV/AIDS, stigma, discrimination and drug addiction issues is increased among 20,000 people belonging to at-risk groups.
4,848 people across the country have increased awareness of STD/HIV/AIDS prevention, stigma and discrimination through discussions, lectures and meetings conducted by the Red Crescent. Additionally, the Red Crescent conducted seven workshops on STD/HIV/AIDS and drug addiction prevention for 315 people.
Expected result 4: The treatment of 100 tuberculosis patients in Dushanbe is observed and followed up by the Red Crescent Society in Tajikistan according to the directly observed treatment short course (DOTS).
According to official statistics, 236 new TB cases were recorded during the last three months in Dushanbe. More than 106 people ill with TB were hospitalised.
The Red Crescent observed 103 TB patients in Dushanbe. Of this group, 27 completed a full treatment. 50 patients made use of the Red Crescent's soup kitchen opened in March 2003 for TB patients to provide additional social and nutritional support.
Red Crescent volunteers conducted a health education awareness campaign for families of TB patients. They visited 170 households to explain how DOTS works. An additional 1,767 people - schoolchildren, state workers and servicemen - have increased awareness of TB through Red Crescent education sessions.
Expected result 5: The capacity of 644 primary health care institutions in 23 rural districts of Khatlon region is improved through supplies of medicines and education of health staff.
In June, the Red Crescent supplied 746 health care facilities in Khatlon province and RRS with diagnostic kits.
During the last three months, the Red Crescent's monitoring teams in Khatlon and RRS visited 776 (95.9%) health care facilities.
In June-August 2003, 587,645 patients visited health care facilities of whom 258,174 received Federation medicines. Monitoring teams randomly visited 13,663 patients at home to confirm the receipt of medicines. 100% success was recorded. They also visited 13,859 households (53,378 people) to raise their awareness of diarrhoea, typhoid and malaria.
In August, the Red Crescent conducted 12 workshops on rational use of drugs for 241 physicians of SVA in Kulyab, Kurgan-Tube, and RRS.
Impact
All objectives for the reported period were achieved. Community awareness on prevention of common diseases, such as, diarrhoea, has improved. Volunteer knowledge on home care for sick people has strengthened. First Aid volunteers have enhanced their capacities to provide First Aid.
Constraints
The Red Crescent together with the Federation adjusted the list of health care facilities that receive medicines from the Federation to avoid any duplication of efforts. 86 health care facilities, initially in the list, were ultimately replaced, as they had already received medicines and medical equipments from the Asian Development Bank.
The Red Crescent's monitoring teams visited 95.9 per cent of target health facilities because sometimes medical personnel were absent.
Due to summer holidays, fewer schoolchildren and students were reached through the HIV/AIDS programme.
Water and Sanitation
Objective: By the end of 2003, the capacity of the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan and communities to operate and maintain rehabilitated water and sanitation systems is strengthened. Hygiene education, delivery of safe drinking water, proper sanitary disposal and ownership of rehabilitated systems is reinforced.
Progress:
Expected result 1: The incidence of water-borne diseases in the targeted communities in GBAO, Sughd, Khatlon and RRS is decreased by 30 per cent through uninterrupted safe water supply.
The Red Crescent assessed the conditions of 20 boreholes and spring catchments constructed during the first six months of the year. Of these 20, 17 were found to work properly and the other three need maintenance.
Due to the lack of funds, only nine water supply systems of the initially planned 15 will be constructed this year.
Expected result 2: The knowledg e of local population in GBAO, Sughd, Khatlon and RRS on the prevention of water-borne diseases is increased by 30 per cent through the provision of health and hygiene activities carried out by RCST at the community level.
Construction of 250 latrines in Sughd and GBAO continues as scheduled. The Red Crescent's technical department and branches are actively participating in the process.
Expected result 3: The capacities of the Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan and targeted local communities in GBAO, Sugh d, Khatlon and RRS are strengthened through training of 480 communities' members and 40 Red Crescent volunteers in community management of water supply systems, operation and maintenance, ownership and sustenance of the rehabilitated water supply systems.
A two-day workshop on water management was conducted in Baroch village (GBAO). The Federation proposed to the Red Crescent to introduce a Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST) methodology in hygiene promotion programmes. A pilot training on PHAST will be conducted for the Red Crescent's medical department.
The hygiene promotion project has suffered severe lack of fund ing. The original pan of action was subsequently adjusted. Only a pilot programme in two communities of Sughd provinc e will be implemented in this year.
Activities outside the appeal objectives
After heavy rainfalls in Penjikent district of Sughd province, the Red Crescent organised an emergency response to help affected population with safe drinking water and water purification tablets.
Additionally, the Red Crescent and the Federation are constructing pour flush latrines in target schools with the UNICEF's financial support. So far, latrines were constructed in 126 schools, while in another 77 they are under construction (see table below for more details).
Table 1. Number and location of schools under the Red Crescent's latrine rehabilitation project
| Provinces | Number of schools |
Constructed | Under construction |
| Khatlon | 58 | 14 |
| Sughd | 68 | 63 |
| Total | 126 | 77 |
Impact
Target communities have increased capacities to manage and maintain their own systems. More communities have been identified for future projects.
Constraints
Lack of funds hampered the project implementation. There were also problems experienced in delivery of supplying construction materials, which has delayed the project. During the interval between departure of the Federation's water and sanitation delegate and arrival of his replacement, planned activities have slowed, but the project is now back on track.
Full Appeal (pdf* format - 112 KB)
