Community-based health and first aid in DPRK

The health and care programme of the Red Cross Society of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is led by the Health and Hygiene Policy from 2008 and the National Society Development Strategic Plan 2015 as well as Strategy 2020 of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Community-Based Health and First Aid (CBHFA) is Red Cross Red Crescent approach empowering communities and their volunteers to take charge of their health. In DPRK context the approach builds on the existing community based network of volunteers and first aid posts and strong links with primary care facilities. Red Cross Society health programming has undergone several reviews to reflect learnings and provide further guidance. The current evaluation is focused on evaluating the on-going community based program using CBHFA approach implemented by DPRK Red Cross Society since 2010 and supported by IFRC through annual appeal (funded by the Finnish Red Cross/Finnish Government). The evaluation took place from 11 to 20 October 2013, with in-country visit from 12 to 18 October 2013 and covered a period of 2010-12, from the onset of CBHFA approach (together with European Union funded hospital support project).