Latvian Red Cross

Address:

Šarlotes iela 1d
LV-1001 - Riga
Tel: +371-7336051
Fax: +371-7336652
Email: secretariat@redcross.lv
Website: www.redcross.lv

Legal Basis:
1918 – Latvian Red Cross is founded
1923 - Latvian RC joins the League
1945 – 1991 - Latvian RC included in Red Cross Red Crescent of Soviet Union
1991 – Latvian RC restored independent activity and renewed its status in IFRC
2009 – Latvian Red Cross Law adopted

Mission:
Latvian RC as component of the RCRC Movement target is to implement the RC/RC Movement fundamental principles and mission in territory Latvia.

Constituency:

Latvian RC is organized in 330 units, 28 branches and Headquarters.

Organisation/planning:

Latvian Red Cross Strategy 2010 – 2012, approved by General Assembly, includes development of main programs, such as: Dissemination of International Humanitarian Law and Red Cross ideas, Disaster preparedness, First aid, Health promotion and social support, Youth, Tracing service, Asylum seeker and refugee support, as well as organizational development.
Leadership:

Highest decision making body of Latvian RC is General Assembly which is held once in three years. Only General Assembly can decide on Strategy of Latvian RC, revision of Statutes and vote for President and Council. President and Council, which consists of 11 – 15 members including 2 Youth members, are meeting at least 4 times a year and is main decision making body in between General Assemblies. The Secretary General, which is at the same time Board chairperson, is appointed by Council. Board is executive body which manages and organizes work of Latvian RC and is composed of 5 members.

Paid staff:
110

Volunteers:
1 200

Members:
12 000

Domestic Activities

Blood

Latvian RC is regularly organising blood donation days throughout the country, recruiting voluntary non-remunerated blood donors. In 2003, 188 blood donation days gathered 38 678 donors. Youth Red Cross activities are well elaborated for the recruitment of new blood donors. Activities in 2004 included a media campaign on the World Blood Donor Day on June 14th as well as a concert for long term blood donors, awarding them with state recognised honour diplomas.
Dissemination of IHL & RC principles

The project benefits from financial support of the ICRC. One of the main activities is the organisation of seminars on IHL and RC for educators in district committees and those called for military service.Together with the Norwegian RC, Latvian RC within the project “Be near …to be” is carrying out integration activities on national and social issues aimed at youth in rural areas. Discussions and seminars are organised across the country.As part of the program books, leaflets, newsletters and posters on IHL and RC are translated, published and distributed.One of the main achievements of the programme and as a result of thorough advocacy work introduction to humanitarian law will be included in the public school education program on a state level.In 2004 Latvian RC will host the second IHL Baltic summer academy for Baltic university students from law, military, social, political and communication departments. The summer school is organised together with Lithuanian and Estonian RC.In 2004 Latvian RC together with the Football Federation organised an OrphansSports festival with the participation of around 1100 children from orphanages, thus raising public awareness on children’s suffering.Elderly

Old age house in Cesis RC Since the beginning of 2003 the Latvian Red Cross manages Cesis old age house providing housing services for 10 vulnerable, retired people.

First Aid

First Aid
Latvian RC has 21 certified first-aid instructors and 25 assistants, who run 15 hours training modules in first-aid, yearly educating around 11 700 people. The program is carried out with the support of the German Red Cross.Regular Latvian RC activity is to organise local, regional and national first-aid competitions among schoolchildren.  Yearly  competitions are organised in around 25 districts in all five regions. The first national first-aid competition for adults was held in 2001 in three districts. In 2003 Latvian RC took part in the EU First Aid competition in Prague.In 2003 Latvian RC participated in the European Road Safety campaign. Within the project 35 educators in 55 schools taught  2644 children in the age from 7 to 12 years road, fire and water safety with first aid elements.First aid for children is taught also in the peer education program where 20 youth educators teach children from 5 to 8 years fire, road, water and their personal safety.In 2003 Latvian RC was awarded European Red Cross First Aid Certificate. Latvian RC has expressed interest in contributing to the development of the European guidelines for First Aid training for the population  in 2005 – 2006.Health prevention and promotion

Health centres and medical and social assistance
The Latvian RC has 46 health centres or rooms where in 2003 medical and social assistance free of charge was given to 19,456 people. In 2003 health centres provided 14 308 people with medicaments donated by pharmacy manufacturers. 
Latvian RC provides transportation services and rent of care and medical accessories like wheelchairs, crutches and sticks for people with special needs. In year 2003, the service assisted 2741 persons.
Tuberculosis prevention: A mobile team, on a rotary basis, visits the Latvian RC soup kitchens and health rooms offering people check-ups for tuberculosis. In 2003, in 504 tours 17 cases of tuberculosis were discovered.Risk reduction / Disaster Preparedness

Disaster Preparedness
The Latvian RC started to develop their Disaster Preparedness program in 2001. Now work is underway to develop a Disaster Preparedness plan that will include a contingency plan and use the seven Disaster Response Units that were trained in search and rescue, first aid and psycho - social support during 2002 and 2003. The program is carried out with the support of the Norwegian RC.Social Services

Home care
There are 72 visiting nurses and 115 home carerswho in 2003 provided social and medical services for 3 674 people and 2 045 families with low income making 20 611 home visits. The German Red Cross continuously supports this program. In 2004 the Empress Shoken Fund supported LaRC project Home care for  elderly whose objective is to provide home care services in rural areas.

Humanitarian aid
The Latvian RC is one of the biggest assistant organisations in the country. In 2003, 109 590 people and 35 hospitals through Latvian RC have received various items like second hand clothes, shoes, bedding, blankets, medicine, medical equipment, furniture, bicycles, toys etc. In 2003, 53 aid shipments were received from the United States’ Lutheran Church (Orphan Grain Train) and the RC Societies in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Finland.
Orphanage in Incukalns

Since the beginning of 2004 the Latvian Red Cross manages Incukalns orphanage which nurses orphans, children left without parent’s solicitude and children with special needs. The Latvian RC organises ongoing fundraising activities in order to carry out necessary refurbishment and orphanage extension to be able to additionally shelter new teenager groups.
Soup kitchens
In Riga there are 11 places where vulnerable people can receive free meals. 49,000 portions are distributed during the year.

Tracing
Tracing Latvian RC provides tracing services for people whose relatives were lost during the war, and correspondence to those located in the territory of a military conflict. In 2003, the Latvian RC received 281 tracing cases and finalised 214 cases, 79 of which had a positive outcome. This service receives financial support from the ICRC.Youth

Youth
The YRC has its own statutes, while still remaining a department of the Latvian RC. It has several peer – education programs like HIV/AIDS, against human trafficking (2005) & youth against violence. It also participates in the European Network of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies on HIV/AIDS (ERNA) and in 2003 hosted ERNA conference. YRC volunteers are active in disseminating RC ideas, blood donor recruitment, first aid activities and fundraising.

Amount spent on international work:
The Latvian Red Cross is engaged in relief support upon necessity, which arises due to natural disasters or military action.

Membership in RCRC networks:
ELSG – European Legal Support GroupENPS – European Red Cross Societies Network for Psychological SupportERNA – European Network of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies on HIV/AIDSEuropean Reference Center on First AidPERCO – Platform for European Red Cross Co-operation on Refugees, Asylum Seekers and MigrantsReference Center on Psychological Support

Country Information

Population:
2,250
GPD per capita:
8,385 EUR
Life expectancy:
77,9 years for women,
67,2 years for men
Infant mortality:
6,7
Accession to the EU:2004