The Impact of Uganda Red Cross Society activities on dsaster response in Bududa District, Uganda

Abstract

This study was intended to examine the impact of Uganda Red Cross Society activities on disaster responses in Bududa District. This study was guided by the three objectives which were to: examine the impact of Uganda Red Cross Society Early warning, Community Based Health Care and provision of shelter, food and water on disaster response in Bududa District.The sample size of 196 respondents was selected from target population of 370. The researcher used Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 as a tool to assist in data analysis. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation) and Regression. The findings revealed that Uganda Red Cross Society promotes humanitarian values among people affected by disasters such as protection of life and empowering communities with information for disaster response and disaster preparedness through early warning mechanism. They provide immediate health care needs to restore peace and sense of humanity and they also provide life saving assistance such as shelter, food and water to ensure peace among the people affected by disaster. Overall there was high impact of Uganda Red Cross provision of early warning preparedness in Bududa (average mean scored was 3.67). There was high impact of Uganda Red Cross Service to Community Based Health Care and First Aid in Bududa district. (average mean of 3.70) and also there was a moderate impact of Uganda Red Cross Society provision of shelter, food and water in Bududa district ( average mean scored of 3.59). Uganda Red Cross Society Community Based Health Care and First Aid is best predictor of Disaster Response in Bududa (B= .638, p = .000< 0.05) and also established that Uganda Red Cross Society activities contributed to their Disaster Response in Bududa by 88.1%. Finally During interview with Red Cross Society official they reported that early warning had help them to warn the community against the likely occurrence of disasters. they usually empower and trained volunteers and community members for first aid treatment against disaster occurrence, they provide first aid equipment such as drugs, spirit, drip water, the survivor were taken to the nearest hospital for medical treatment after the First Aid and they provide assistance, food, drinking water and temporary shelter to the affected community members in Bududa. The following recommendations were also made (1) Ugandan government and Red Cross Society should intensify intensify efforts in the area of disaster management responses,(2) Uganda Red Cross should continue to ensure regular and timely walk-through visits to the Bududa community.(3) Uganda Red Cross should improve on the way they provide thei