Written by Catherine Ntabadde
The Uganda Red Cross Society has conducted training and assessment on water risk with an aim to overcome the current water risk challenges in Rakai district.
The training was conducted with a team of 25 URCS Rakai Branch volunteers. Some of the water risks include over loading of boats, use of life jackets, use of mechanically unsound boats, lack of basic first aid skills on water, direct domestic use of lake water and changes of weather condition leading to accidents.
This activity greatly contributed to the Beach management unit action plan for 2013 and implementation of water related emergencies, according to Sulaiman Bbosa, the Branch Manager
In addition, the branch provided first aid services at public functions with 18 volunteers taking part, during the sports day at Secrete Hart Kitelide and inters volleyball schools competitions in Rakai. A total of 84 causalities were attended to by the first aid team.
Bbosa says the branch also maintains a First Aid Post at Kasensero landing site fully equipped with basic first aid items for emergencies. The post is also a meeting point for groups and community members are able to conduct other events that contribute to community development.
As a way of reducing the HIV scourge among the fishing communities, 17 awareness sessions were conducted reaching 1, 210 people. The awareness focused on prevention, stigma, caring for the victims, and proper condom use, storage, application, and disposal after use.
For the in school, URCS managed to carry out 19 sessions which reached out to 1,400 students mainly with the Abstinence message, faithfulness and condom use for students in institutions.
Peer education in and out of school was emphasized. Seven peer sessions were carried out reaching out to 240 youth and the major topics were life planning skills, leadership, early unwanted pregnancies, HIV/AIDS and drug abuse.
During home visits, the URCS community volunteers addressed issues like guidance and counseling, sanitation and hygiene promotion, drug adherence, promotion of Insecticide treated nets among others.
