Volunteer led humanitarian organisation committed to quality service delivery to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in Fiji.

The Principle of Humanity underlies the purpose of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: to protect life and health to ensure respect for the human being. All our volunteers and paid staff who support them work towards these humanitarian objectives. We prevent or alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found.

At times, this seems an onerous task when we see more locals becoming infected with HIV&AIDS and having to face stigma and discrimination, displaced farmers losing their livelihoods, the alarming increase in teenage pregnancies and drug/alcohol abuse, ignorance of primary health issues, the high incidences of drowning, rural dwellers lacking access to clean water and the alarming rise in poverty with many moving to urban areas and living in squalor, to name but a few. As many turn to us as their last resort, we endeavour to match our programmes and services with the needs of communities. To do nothing about it would be inhumane and against the principles of the Movement.  

In Fiji, our ability to work with government, aid agencies, supporters and volunteers gives us the capacity to help prevent, prepare for and respond to their situations and emergencies and to mitigate the suffering of the most vulnerable in Fiji.

The Fiji Red Cross Society was established in 1954 as a branch of the British Red Cross and it was recognised as an independent National Society in 1973. The Society is officially recognised by the government as a voluntary relief organisation, an auxiliary to public authorities and as the only Red Cross Society in Fiji. It is the most widely recognised and respected humanitarian organisation in the country.

 

The Society has a National Council, a National Board, a National Office in Suva and 15 active branches and two Divisional Service Centres (DSC Northern and DSC Western) throughout Fiji, covering 80% of the country. The Branches function primarily as relief operators and as a network system for implementing and promoting various programmes and services within their communities. The DSC Northern and DSC Western are the link on the ground for the National Office and the branches and each are responsible for their divisions respectively.

 

Depending on capacity, the Society fills the gaps where they can by providing services and programmes:

·                     immediate response to victims of disaster

·                     First Aid services to participants and spectators at events

·                     protecting and promoting human dignity of HIV/AIDS sufferers

·                     poverty alleviation

·                     water safety and swimming lessons

·                     promoting safety in homes and offices

·                     looking after physically and mentally challenged people

·                     recruiting blood donors and saving lives

 

We believe that by working together, we can:

·                     CONFRONT hardship and suffering

·                     FIGHT intolerance and discrimination

·                     PROMOTE understanding

·                     EMBRACE the forgotten

·                     PROTECT the vulnerable

·                     CREATE smiles

·                     truly make a DIFFERENCE

The Red Cross is all about PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE – people, like each one of us, through the ups and downs of life, crises which come our way, the hurt and the pain.

Programmes and Services

 

HEALTH & CARE

Health & Welfare

Blood Donor Advocacy/Recruitment

Ambulatory Aids

Community Based First Aid & Mind That Child

Health Promotion Programmes:

-                                             HIV & AIDS in the Workplace

-                                             HIV & AIDS and STI education in schools /communities

-                                             Prevention of suicide

-                                             Prevention of non-communicable and communicable diseases

-                                             Drug and alcohol abuse awareness

 

DISASTER

Disaster Preparedness

Disaster Response

 

SAFETY

Basic First Aid and CPR

CPR Refresher

Elementary First Aid

First Aid at Sea

Mind That Child

Fiji Swim (Water Safety)

First Aid Products

Ambulatory Aids (sale/hire/repairs/spares)

First Aid Standby

Patient Care Products

 

YOUTH

Red Cross in Schools

Youth Link

 

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

Fundamental Principles

Geneva Conventions

Respect the Sign

Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

 

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

Fundraising

Publications and IEC Materials

Corporate Donations

Individual Donations

Marketing

Public Relations

Proposal Writing

Leadership

The National Council is the highest authority and meets once a year. However, if there are issue of interest before the next annual general meeting, a second special meeting is called. It is at the National Council that the members of the National Board are elected. The National Board meets at least once every 3 months.

Representatives to the National Council include the Patron, His Excellency Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, President of the Republic of Fiji, members of the National Board, two council representatives from each of the 15 branches and the Director General as secretary.

 

The National Board is responsible for setting policies and guidelines. The Director General is responsible to the Board for the implementation of policies and procedures and the management of staff and activities of the Society.

Human Resources

The Society employs 22 paid staff at the National Office and seven at branch level. This includes the Director General, program coordinators and managers for Health and Care, Disaster, Resource Development, and Operations. In addition there are 11 volunteers working in a support capacity at the National Office. At the branch level, Lautoka employs six staff and Rakiraki one.

 

In the branches, the Society has approximately 120 active volunteers with an additional 5,000 volunteers ready to be mobilised during emergencies such as a natural disaster.

National Board Members

Mr. William Clarke President	Mrs. Alison Cupit Director General

 

PRESIDENT:        Mr. William Clarke
VICE PRESIDENT: Adi Davila Toganivalu

TREASURER:       Mr. Rajesh Sharma

MEMBERS:         Mr. Digby Bossley, Mrs. Annie Rogers, Major-General Jioji Konrote (ret.). Mrs. Alison Cupit, Director General (ex-officio)

Financial Resources

The Society’s constitution defines the procedure regarding financial resources. The main source of income for the Society are fundraising events and income generating projects, donor funded programmes and fee-earning training courses. Income generation projects include first aid kit sales, ambulatory aid sales and first aid standby for events and rental property.

Beneficiaries

Many thousands of people have benefited from the services provided by the Society particularly during a natural disaster. We have also provided victims of fires with emergency relief supplies and clothes that are brand new and stored as part of our disaster container programme. Visit our website and read the 2007 Annual Report as well as other publications to learn more about the work that we do in vulnerable communities.

Country Economic Update

 2007/2008 UN Human Development Report

Human Development Index: 0.762

Human Poverty Index: 50

Life expectancy at birth: 68.3

Under-five mortality rate (per 1,000 live births), 2005: 18

GDP per capita (PPP US$), 2005: 6,049

HIV prevalence (%aged 15049), 2005: 0.1 (0.1-0.4)

Population not using an improved water source (%) 2004: 53

Children underweight for age (% under age 5), 1996-2005: 8

 World Bank – East Asia Update, April 2008

Since the takeover of Fiji’s Parliament in December 2006, the Interim Government led by the military commander has continued to face international sanctions by some donors. These include the suspension of parts of the aid program and immigration restrictions. Restoration of bilateral relations with key external partners remains largely dependent on the Interim Government’s demonstrating a commitment to return Fiji to democracy. National elections are expected in the first quarter of 2009.

Fiji’s real GDP contracted by an estimated 4 percent in 2007, largely reflecting the effect of recent political events on the tourism and construction sectors. Tourism earnings fell by an estimated 20 percent while construction activity declined by one‐third in the first 9 months of the year. Sugar production declined by 23 percent due to unfavourable weather conditions and supply chain inefficiencies. Copra production declined by 9 percent. Garment export earnings have remained subdued since the expiry of the US preferential agreement in 2005. 

Inflation for 2007 was estimated at 4 percent, reflecting increases in excise duties and higher food prices following supply shocks (flood‐ and cyclone‐related losses). However, it jumped to 7.4 percent at end‐January 2008 as higher global oil prices affected domestic transport and electricity costs, and higher international wheat prices and cyclone‐led disruptions in local supply increased food prices. The inflation rate projected for end‐2008 has been revised upwards to 5 percent.

A modest recovery of approximately 2 percent real GDP growth is forecast for 2008 linked to expected growth in tourism. However, economic recovery remains vulnerable to political instability, natural disasters (cyclones, floods), high global oil prices, and uncertain relations with key development partners. Reforms in macroeconomic policy, public sector management, land, and the sugar sector are much needed but difficult to implement under present circumstances.