As the international community marks World Health Day on April 7, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reaffirms that Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies - as auxiliaries to governments - are key partners for Health at the global, regional and community levels.

Their role is especially essential to build safer and healthier communities as reflected in this year's theme selected by the World Health Organization focusing on "international health security". Disaster preparedness is an integral part of our policy," says Dr. Bruce Eshaya-Chauvin, the International Federation's Head of the Health and Care Department. "Every year, our worldwide network of some 100 million volunteers and members is trained to educate people but also ready to respond when a major health crisis occurs. There is no way we can limit the consequences of a major health threat without mobilizing volunteers in their communities," he adds.

Avian Influenza is a good example of the efficient involvement of Red Cross/Red Crescent. "As soon as the threat of a possible avian influenza epidemic was identified, the International Federation launched an emergency appeal to support Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Volunteers have been trained to work within their communities, bringing messages as part of prevention of further spread of avian influenza, as well as to protect human beings from getting infected with the H5N1 virus. They would also be immediately mobilized should the threat of a human pandemic become a reality", explains Dr. Pierre Duplessis, the International Federation's Special Envoy for Avian Influenza and Secretary General of the Canadian Red Cross.

Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are also building healthier and safer communities by teaming up with other partners to reach remarkable achievements like reducing worldwide measles mortality by 60 per cent since 1999, by distributing thousands of bednets to combat malaria, by educating mothers on how to use them, and by scaling up home-based care programmes for people living with HIV.

"As the most significant non-governmental actor in the health and social welfare sector, our 185 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are ideally placed to contribute to international health security through safer and healthier communities," says Markku Niskala, the International Federation's Secretary General. In doing so, they are working towards meeting the Millenium Development Goals, including reducing child mortality and combating HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases," he concludes.