The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world’s leading crisis response organisation.
The Red Cross is involved in many projects that serve the community. The BVI Red Cross offers Prostate Cancer Screening annually. This involves the preparation of forms, typing of letters, circulating information to the public and all parties concerned, negotiation with various Government Departments to ensure that proper authorisation is received to carry out the programme. It also involves a lot of follow up work after the screening is completed. Blood Typing & Blood Donor Drives are also held by the BVI Red Cross. This is done annually and enables the Hospital, Lab Department to procure added blood donors each year.
The BVI Red Cross offers medical equipment for rent, home care basic training, and first aid training. In addition the Red Cross is involved very much with the Office of Disaster Preparedness in all their programmes. They render service at all sporting events and other public functions, and offer other general functions in the Community especially to the elderly and those most vulnerable including children who are considered “at risk”. Distribution of food baskets, clothes, medical assistance, etc. are but some of the services provided.
An HIV/AIDS Peer Education Programme is also offered through the BVI Red Cross. This is a project in which members of the Voluntary Aid Detachment section are trained in all the various facets of sexually transmitted infections and aids. These young people then spread out into the community and teach their peers using the various methods of dissemination to get their message across. There is close collaboration with the National Aids Council especially in planning community awareness activities and the celebration of World Aids Day.
Fund raising is a vital part of the work of the organization. As a voluntary organization, the BVI Red Cross depends on the generosity of persons and organizations within the community for grants from time to time but they do hold jumble sales, walkathons, food sales, receptions, place donation bins in the Banks and Supermarkets, etc. and run a thrift shop.
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