Community Health 20

“Do you think you can get a birthday cake for my wife?”
Under normal circumstances, the answer would be simple. But these were not normal circumstances.
The man who made the request and his family were under quarantine at CFB Trenton. They were among the first two plane loads of Canadians brought home by the Canadian government from the epicenter of the coronavirus in China.

With so much about COVID-19 in the news, it’s not surprising that many people have questions or are feeling concerned. Here are some tips for staying healthy, how to prepare, and what to do if you become sick.
 

For International Women’s Day, we’re taking another look at some of the amazing work being done by our staff, volunteers and delegates – it’s inspiring work, by women, for women, and for their communities.

February 12^th is the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers. Around the world, children are associated with, and used during, armed conflict with devastating effects on both the child and society. A child associated with armed conflict is not limited to children who engage in the fighting, as children are often used by parties to a conflict as cooks, messengers, and/or for sexual purposes. Many armed groups specifically recruit or capture children because they are easy to physically and mentally control.

Imagine arriving to a new country without knowing anyone, not speaking the language or knowing how to access the services you may need. This is the situation for many refugees worldwide. To address this need, the Canadian Red Cross established a program called First Contact in 2001. First Contact helps by giving refugees access to information about emergency shelter, social services, legal and health services.

In 2019, the Central American region suffered the most extensive dengue outbreak of the decade, with more than one million people affected by the outbreak. With the support of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, National Societies are working alongside communities in the most affected areas to equip them with the information and materials necessary to control and mitigate the effects of the dengue outbreak.

As we get ready in ring in 2020, we're reflecting on some events from the past decade that brought together international aid workers, inspired innovative solutions to complex challenges, and showed the amazing capacity for resilience humans have in the face of disasters.

From November 25 to December 16, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign is taking place around the world. The Canadian Red Cross works to address sexual and gender-based violence both in Canada and internationally, read how.