Canadian Red Cross

Purpose

This project is supporting the Canadian Red Cross in deploying Health Emergency Response Units (ERUs) in communities experiencing crises in Africa, the Americas and Asia. GAC’s multi-year humanitarian support to this project is contributing to respond to health needs in emergencies. Emergency Response Units are a key disaster response tool and an integrated part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) disaster management system. Health ERUs, such as field hospitals and emergency clinics, provide essential health services in post-disaster and health crisis contexts, and are activated when local health care resources are overwhelmed, incapacitated or inaccessible. Project activities include: (1) mobilizing Canadian experts for health ERU operations; (2) supporting the establishment of health ERUs in humanitarian crises; and (3) improving access to health ERU services, including sexual and reproductive health services for women and men, cholera treatment and surgical care.