Health activities
First aid
Voluntary blood donation
Montenegro Red Cross traditionally, within the regular activities of voluntary blood activities, implements activities of motivation and gathering of voluntary blood donors; promotes blood donation; keeps records; in cooperation with the health institutions, organizes actions of voluntary blood donations; establishes conditions for awarding voluntary blood donors. General activity of Red Cross in this area is formalized through positive legislation of the state of Montenegro, meaning that conducting above mentioned affairs is conferred to Red Cross, according to the Law on Montenegro Red Cross. These are affairs of public interest and Red Cross has the auxiliary role to the government in the humanitarian area, while conducting these affairs.
Non-remunerated voluntary blood donors are organized in clubs, which mostly function within Red Cross.
Normative acts of Montenegro Red Cross defines conditions for awarding for persons who donated blood 5,10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75 and 100 times. For the first donation, the award is given in the Blood Transfusion Centre, when the donor receives booklet for voluntary blood donor.
Blood donation is established according to the ethnic principles: voluntary, non-remunerated and anonymous.
On the occasion of May 11th, Voluntary Blood Donors Day in Montenegro, Ministry of Health in the Government of Montenegro, on the proposal of Montenegro Red Cross, recognizes and provides adequate awards for the most deserving blood donor, for the most active Club of VBD, for the promoter in the area of educational-motivational work; for the physician and medical assistant in transfusiology. This represents a significant way of motivation.
Montenegro Red Cross also accomplishes motivation accomplishes through other Red Cross activities, by itself, or with the support from the government: provides summer and winter vacation for the blood donors, organizes meetings and gatherings; works with the youth in high schools, etc.
Responsibilities of Montenegro Red Cross are defined in the Law on Blood provision, adopted by the Assembly of Montenegro on November 27th 2007, according to which Montenegro Red Cross is the carrier of the motivational-educational work with voluntary blood donors.
HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention
First case of HIV/ AIDS in Montenegro was officially registered in 1989. The total cumulative number of registered HIV/AIDS cases by the end of 2008. was 89 (47 AIDS and 42 HIV). According to the estimations from the Institute for Public Health, the number of HIV positive persons by the end of 2008. was 388 (300-500), and regional trends are showing the increased transmission of HIV. Out of 47 persons who are diagnosed with AIDS, 30 died.
Montenegro Red Cross is traditionally dealing with the issue of HIV/AIDS prevention and sexually transmitted disease, and in cooperation with other institutions and organizations who are dealing with this issue, organized different educational activities.
Also, the Goals of the Global Agenda of the International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies, and Montenegro Cross is its member, commit our organization to an active approach in the area of sexually transmitted disease and addiction prevention.
All the activities are focused on the strengthening of voluntary basis in the local Red Cross branches and training of certain number of young people who are actively treating these issues in their local communities as peer educators.
Montenegro Red Cross, as executive partner of UNHCR in camp Konik, works on HIV transmission prevention with RAE population, as the part of programme which deals with RAE population. Montenegro Red Cross also cooperates with other organizations regarding this issue.
The main goals of the programme are:
- Education and establishment of the team of experts in Montenegro Red Cross who could implement the activities in the area of HIV/AIDS,
- Networking and strengthening the cooperation with the institutions and organizations in the country, as well as with the components of the Movement who are dealing with this issue,
- Reduction of stigma and discrimination of HIV infected persons,
- Awareness raising and knowledge sharing on HIV/AIDS among general.
Accomplished results within HIV/AIDS Prevention programme:
- Representatives of Montenegro Red Cross participated in many seminars and actions on HIV/AIDS. We are traditionally celebrating December 1st, World Aids Day, when local Red Cross branches implements different activities (distribution of the promotional material, organization of education tribunes, performance),
- Established cooperation with the governmental institutions, such as Ministry of Health, Institute for Public Health, which resulted in membership in the National Coordinating Body, which provides the possibility for receiving funds from the HIV/AIDS Global Fund.
- Implemented projects that deal with prevention of sexually transmitted disease
- Promotional material printed.
Montenegro Red Cross is the member of ERNA (European Red Cross/Red Crescent Network on HIV/AIDS & TB).
In the area of TB prevention, Montenegro Red Cross organizes educational lectures, tribunes, distribution of promotional material, so as to inform general population about this disease – its causes, symptoms, ways of transmission, treatment, protection.
TB Week, from September 14-21 is one of the manifestations of Montenegro Red Cross, when local Red Cross branches implement different kind of activities.