The goal of the Medical Welfare Programme is to increase the provision of quality health and welfare services to the most vulnerable in Fiji and promote healthy lifestyles.

The Fiji Red Cross Society's Medical Welfare Programme fills gaps that exist in the provision of quality health and care services to the most vulnerable and remote communities in Fiji. It provides advocacy and support for people with disabilities, mental and terminal illnesses (e.g. through the provision, and follow up, of referrals to relevant organisations) and the promotion of health through educational sessions and the distribution of relevant IEC Material.

Activities

• Medical Welfare Officers visit remote communities in their division weekly

• Identify need within the communities visited and address the need as best as possible (predominantly through education and referrals)

• Distribution of health promoting IEC material and condoms (where appropriate)

Collaboration and Partnerships

Before the training and implementation of the programme a series of meetings were held with various stakeholders at many levels of the community. These meetings were crucial in identifying what services are currently being provided and in what locations, as well as possible areas for partnerships. Subsequent to these meetings a 'Health and Welfare Register' was developed. This tool provides the Medical Welfare Officers (MWO's) with information to assist them in making referrals.

Medical Welfare Officers work closely with a variety of NGO's, community groups and ministries. This includes conducting community visits together as well the identification of cases, the provision, and follow up of referrals for service delivery.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• The Health Promotion sessions are monitored through pre and post knowledge tests, evaluation forms and MWO report forms

• The provision of services is monitored through evaluation forms, referral forms and MWO report forms

• Evaluation will be conducted approx 6 months after programme implementation to evaluate the effectiveness (behaviour change, situation improvements etc).