Epidemics are a constant threat to the health and well-being of communities, especially in areas where resources are scarce.?
What is Epidemics? Epidemics are often a symptom of underlying weaknesses in the health system or water and sanitation infrastructure; the challenges and effects of which are often exacerbated by poverty and inequity.
How it affect? Epidemics affect the security, social cohesion and economic prosperity of affected communities. Recent years have been marked by significant epidemics — cholera, plague, dengue, yellow fever, Zika, Lassa fever, MERS, Ebola Virus Disease and COVID-19, among others.
It is essential to plan and prepare for epidemic prevention and control. With preparedness, early detection and rapid response, it is possible to limit the impact of outbreaks by containing and controlling them before they grow out of control. Managing epidemics and preparing for them, or preferably preventing them, is a priority for the Vanuatu Red Cross Society across the country. A large part of this response to health needs in emergencies and epidemics is carried out by volunteers working in their own communities.
It is the volunteers’ presence within their own communities that ensures they understand and can better address the underlying risks, vulnerabilities and inequalities. Their competitive advantage is therefore their sustained and consistent contact with communities, which allows two-way communication and trust to be built – both of which are crucial elements for effective public health response.