THE SAFER ACCESS: AN ICRC SELF-PROTECTION TOOL CUSTOMIZED TO BE APPLIED TO HEALTH STAFF VULNERABLE TO ARMED VIOLENCE

Introduction and Objective: Safer Access is a security tool created to protect the ICRC staff to reach vulnerable victims of armed conflicts in different contexts where there is a humanitarian need. It was customized to protect health staff of armed violence in Rio de Janeiro. Methodology: After a participative workshop a security protocol is built by the own health staff, especially the home visitors that work and live in the community affected by the armed violence. These security measures are based on the field risk analysis and their classification. This protocol is supported by the whole PHC management hierarchy that handle their consequence, e.g.: security measures review and mental health support. Resultados: The Safer Access was developed and tested in Rio de Janeiro Municipality. These experience outcomes and lessons learnt has been disseminated to other vulnerable Municipalities that are in different stages of implementation: a) recently finished the training: Rio de Janeiro State: Araruama, Belford Roxo, Duque de Caxias, Itaboraí, São Gonçalo; b) Starting the Implementation: Santa Catarina State: Florianópolis c) Advanced Implementation: Rio de Janeiro State: Rio de Janeiro and Niterói and d) Under Training to Implement: Rio de Janeiro State: Angra dos Reis, Paraty and Mangaratiba; e) Interested to Implement: Minas Gerais State: Belo Horizonte; Rio Grande do Sul State: Porto Alegre. Conclusões: Safer Access protects the health staff, provides mental health support for them and a management tool for the managers, and organizes the health access delivery.