SRI LANKA RED CROSS SOCIETY

The Disaster Response Teams (CDRT) formed under the guidance of the branch are now functioning in Pollonnaruwa District bringing benefits to the communities they serve. The American RC has worked closely with the Branch and has provided them with training to enhance existing skills and introduce new skills which are critical to their community. These skills include first aid, rescue operation techniques, fire and water safety methods.

The branch distributed Rs. 1.4 million worth equipment including kitchen sets, water tanks, chairs, fire extinguishers and sirens etc for eight CDRTs to strength their capacity in responding a disaster situation effectively and efficiently. The villages where CDRTs are set-up include Nelumvila, Kotaleeya, Sinharajapura, Wijayarajapura, Divulana, Mahakirimetiya, Patunugama, Parakumpura.

"No one knows what will happen in a disaster and in most cases affected villagers do not have adequate knowledge what to do, where to go or become helpless with confusing mind. Branch Disaster Response Team has identified that using school children is the most effective and practical media of educating villagers about Disaster Preparedness. A series of training programs was conducted to train children and recent donation of equipment worth Rs. 525,000 has strengthened the teams capacity in responding disaster situations. The donation was made to Royal College, Polonnaruwa, Sewamuktha Kandawura Navodya Vidyalaya, Kaduruwela Nagara Maha Vidyalaya, Muslim Central College, Polonnaruwa, Divulana Al Aksha Maha Vidyalaya, Kirimetiya Kanishta Vidyalaya, Kaudulla Maha Vidyalaya with financial support of American RC.

Red Cross conducts First Aid training among school children with a view to encourage students for voluntary services, make available trained first aides in schools benefiting both school community and host villages and strengthening the capacity of schools to provide first aid services proper way.

The branch has setup six first aid units in Alawakumbura Maha Vidyalaya, Pimburaththewa, Aluthoya Gamini Vidyalaya, Aluthoya, Royal College Polonnaruwa, Nagara Maha Vidyalaya, Kaduruwela, Sewamuktha Kandawura Vidyalaya, Polonnaruwa and Muslim Maha Vidyalaya, Kaduruwela in October. These units were provided with first aid box with first aid medicine, bed with mattresses, bed screen, stretcher and bed sheets.

Nutritious cooking demonstration was conducted for expecting mothers and mothers who have small children under the Community Based Health Project funded by the Canadian Red Cross. They were taught to prepare nutritional foods using vegetables, grains and leaf vegetable which they can find easily from their neighborhood. Demonstration on cooking foods preserving its nutrition condition also carried out for the audience. Since January to date branch carried out 14 nutritious cooking demonstration programs.

Facilities available for playing for children in Pimburaththewa and Aluthoya Villages have been enhanced with support of Community Based Health Project launched by the branch with support of Canadian RC. 5 children parks have been constructed in 5 child care centers in these two villages.

Since January this year branch has conducted series of Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST) sessions for villagers to improve their health practices, empower community to manage their own water and sanitation resources and control water bone diseases. 70th program of PHAST was conducted recently for the villagers of Pimburaththewa and Aluthoya.

Branch also conducted the Information Education Communication session for the Pimburaththewa and Aluthoya Villages with the support of Canadian RC funded Community Based Health Project. So far branch has conducted 168 educational programs for about 1400 villagers.

The branch always appreciates the volunteers who contribute for the continuation of its humanitarian activities that bring benefits to the people in the district. Some public officers like Additional Government Agent, Senior Suprintendent of Police, Residential Project Manager of Mahaweli B zone, Medical Officer of health ,Dimbulagala and Thamankaduwa and Doctor in charge of Maternal and child health,Polonnariwa Hospital were among 120 who were appreciated in June by the branch.

Chairman of the branch Bharata Jonikku Hewa Divisional Secretary, Polonnaruwa Nimal Abeysiri , Chairman of Tamankaduwa Pradeshiya Shaba Premasiri Munasinghe and Siman Jones of Canadian Red Cross were present at the function.

Construction of a new building for the branch is now underway on 30 perch block of land allocated by the government in New Town area.

The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) funded project will cost Rs.9.5 million. Foundation stone was laid on 14th May for the building in presence of Secretary of the branch Charles Corea, Treasurer Rohana Deraniyagala OD Delegate of CRC bob Vagnaer and Additional District Secretary, Polonnaruwa Panditaratna.

Water Scheme project : The branch helps Aluthoya villagers in Aralaganwila to overcome prolonged drinking water problem.200 families, the beneficiaries will be provided with water from a mega well constructed by them as a part of their contribution to the project. The Canadian Red Cross ,under the Community Based Health project that covers 3 Grama Niladari divisions , has allocated Rs 4.6 million for the provision of water. Money is used for the putting up of a over head tank and laying pipe network.

Community Based Health project : Several Progrmmes are in progress in Polonnaruwa district under Canadian Red Cross Supported Community Based health Project.The objective of the project is to develop and strengthen the capacity of vulnerable individuals, families and communities to improve their health and living conditions through self help action facilitated by the community, the SLRCS and the government.

377 families in Aluthoya, Pimburattewa East and West were given seeds for the cultivation of vegetable. This has become not only a source of additional income for them but also a way to meet food needs.

In addition a programme to support 350 families for putting up of latrines is underway. Most of existing latrines are not met minimum standards. With material provided under the CBH project 170 families have benefited so far. This move will help to improve the health condition of villagers.