Mobile Klinik mit Medikamenten des Roten Kreuzes in Simbabwe
What we do

Healthcare

Providing assistance around the clock, worldwide: In cooperation with the national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on the ground, the German Red Cross is committed to humanitarian healthcare and the prevention of health crises.

Besides providing rapid medical aid in acute emergencies, the GRC aims to improve health conditions long-term and seeks to strengthen the national health systems.

The emphasis in the area of global healthcare and the prevention of humanitarian health crises is placed on particularly vulnerable population groups in countries of the Global South.

This includes, in addition to direct healthcare services, extensive and sustainable support in the areas of nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as disaster risk reduction, resilience, and shelter. After all, these areas also have a significant impact on people’s health.

Since local actors play the most crucial role in providing immediate assistance during emergencies, the GRC always aims to strengthen the respective national Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies, too.

GRC support in the health sector

Key Areas
  • primary and basic healthcare
  • prevention and treatment of communicable and highly infectious diseases
  • treatment of chronic illnesses
  • Immuniation
  • mental health and psychosocial support
  • sexual and reproductive health
  • maternal and child health
  • response to acute malnutrition
  • emergency medical services
  • blood banks/blood donation services
  • first aid
tents on a football field

Emergency Relief Activities

In acute health crises, the German Red Cross supports national healthcare facilities in providing essential medical care. The goal is to ensure that injured and ill individuals receive the urgent medical assistance they need and to save lives.
When necessary, the GRC can deploy mobile Emergency Response Units. These modular units enable to temporarily cover parts of the urgent healthcare needs.

Two women talking

Long-Term Health Activities

In increasingly protracted humanitarian crises, the GRC places greater emphasis on supporting psychosocial health and care, as well as on providing treatment for people with chronic and non-communicable diseases – especially when the national health system is temporarily unable to do so.

The GRC´s long-term health programmes also focus on health promotion and disease prevention, for example through comprehensive and regular community awareness campaigns.

Rotkreuzlerin spricht mit Seniorin

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