Review of the Epidemic Control for Volunteers’ Toolkit – Rollout in Asia Pacific, 2011 – 2014

Purpose

This document provides a review of the Epidemic Control for Volunteers (ECV) Manual and Toolkit and its rollout in Asia Pacific. It includes case studies on the use of the toolkit in a number of countries in Asia Pacific.

Overview

  • The evaluation found the original English text to be clear and simple to understand, although there was some duplication between sections of sessions 2 and 3, especially in relation to the roles and expectations of volunteers. Graphics and drawings required contextualisation. National Societies were advised to adapt illustrations to their own settings.
  • The original ECV toolkit and manual covers 17 of the most common diseases occurring during epidemics. There are some diseases with epidemic potential that are not included in the toolkit. Some National Societies decided to include additional diseases after consultation with their national health authorities. The addition required a significantly higher degree of work compared with those disease pages that required translation and adaptation only. In some cases, the addition of new diseases to the tool delayed the whole production process.
  • The rollout of the toolkit was highly relevant and effective in meeting countries’ needs, epidemic priorities and in the contexts of the community programmes. The strategy of sensitising the leadership of National Societies and relevant national authorities as the first step has proven to be highly effective in beginning the rollout of ECV as this helped pave the way for mainstreaming it into National Societies’ health programmes or those of national authorities, as well as emergency contingency planning. The approach of mainstreaming and integration into existing health or disaster management programmes was also widely recognised as appropriate to ensure sustainability and optimal use of resources.
  • Recommendations from the evaluation include: keeping it simple; keeping it flexible; the need for National Societies to consider the toolkit as their tool, not an IFRC programme; keeping the training timeframe adaptable; considering additional options – online training, (and, for example, offline CDs); improving advocacy and the dissemination of the materials.

Usage: Learning from experience

Audiences: Technical staff

Citation: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2015). Review of the Epidemic Control for Volunteers’ Toolkit. Rollout in Asia Pacific, 2011 – 2014. (pp. 1-72).

See related document: Epidemic Control for Volunteers: A Training Manual

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Epidemic preparedness in Indonesia

Purpose

This document looks the roll-out of the Epidemic Control for Volunteer (ECV) toolkit and training manual, its implementation and analysis from the context of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).

Four provincial branches were chosen to initiate the project and field test the toolkit between November 2013 and February 2015: Banten, Daerah Khusus Ibukota (DKI) Jakarta, Jawa Barat and Papua. The branches were selected based on epidemic risks and their capacity and interest in supporting the introduction of the manual and toolkit.

Overview

  • Before implementation began in November 2013, Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) conducted sensitisation sessions with the leadership and key staff of different headquarter divisions. The goal of these sessions was to secure support and maximise the potential for integration of the tool in community programming. Sensitisation sessions were also held with key external stakeholders.
  • The Ministry of Health in Indonesia committed to cooperating with PMI on the adaptation of materials. An external consultant was hired to oversee the completion of the translation, graphic design and layout of the adapted material.
  • PMI started by conducting a three-day training course to create a group of ‘master trainers’ of staff and volunteers in the selected provinces. This group was then equipped to lead branch and community trainings, and facilitate the roll out of the toolkit in their communities.
  • Although the ECV project improved the National Society’s capacities, some challenges and constraints emerged (see p. 6 of the report).

Usage: Learning from experience

Audiences: Technical staff

Citation: Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) (2015). Epidemic Preparedness in Indonesia: Adaptation and Roll-out of IFRC’s Epidemic Control for Volunteer (ECV) Toolkit and Training Manual (pp.1-6).

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Download: https://www.rcrc-resilience-southeastasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ECV-Case-Study-Indonesia.pdf

Epidemic Preparedness in Myanmar

Purpose

This document is a case study of the adaptation and roll-out of the Epidemic Control for Volunteers’ (ECV) Toolkit and Training Manual in Myanmar.

The roll-out of the ECV Toolkit in Myanmar targeted five communities in Leiwei Township with a population of approximately 11,870 people (2,660 households).

Overview

  • First, a coordination and sensitization meeting on epidemic prevention and control was held. It brought together Myanmar Red Cross Society leadership and management representatives from various departments, Ministry of Health officials and the IFRC country office. In addition to this meeting, two sensitization and contingency-planning workshops, based on potential outbreaks of priority diseases, were conducted for Myanmar Red Cross Society staff and volunteers. The ECV toolkit was translated and adapted for the local context. A three-day training session was held to create a group of Myanmar Red Cross Society ‘master trainers’ who would ensure the ECV toolkit was rolled out within the communities where they worked.
  • Overall, the project has supported the Myanmar Red Cross Society to increase community preparedness to seasonal disease outbreaks and epidemics, including potential, emerging, infections in the country. The roll-out of the ECV toolkit improved the capacity of Myanmar Red Cross Society volunteers to deliver good quality services to the community and to guide the immediate action of volunteers in response to any epidemic or its threat.
  • Some of the challenges faced include: the need for more time than was originally planned; difficulty recruiting project staff due to a lack of experienced applicants; translation and adaption of ECV toolkits taking more time than expected. A full list can be found on pp. 4-5.

Usage: Learning from experience

Audiences: Technical staff

Citation: Myanmar Red Cross Society (2015). Epidemic Preparedness in Myanmar (pp. 1-6).

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Download: https://www.rcrc-resilience-southeastasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Myanmar-ECV_CaseStudy-4.pdf