JOINews September


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Monthly Newsletter

September 2023

News from the Network

St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group wins the world’s largest award in the field of Vision

Our JOIN member from Jerusalem has won the 2023 edition of the António Champalimaud Vision Award. The award was announced in a ceremony chaired by the President of Portugal, H.E Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and President of the Champalimaud Foundation, Leonor Beleza, in the presence of public figures and international organisations’ representatives. Former JOIN Chairman Johannes Bucher was present at the event representing the JOIN network, together with delegates of other JOIN members. Continue reading

Update on humanitarian aid for Ukraine

The members of the JOIN network continue to provide and expand their aid. Next to immediate emergency relief, transport services, as well as accommodation and support to refugees, many of our members operate arranged medical deliveries to hospitals in Ukraine and to refugees in Ukraine's border regions. On 5th September, volunteers of our Hungarian member delivered a van loaded with school desks to the Hungarian-language Reformed Lyceum in Técső, Transcarpathia. Over 80 desks with their accompanying chairs met the needs of the refugees. Read all updates on our network activity for Ukraine here.

Volunteer Swap

Read the report of an English volunteer at the Ambulance services in Vienna

Joshua, a volunteer of St John Ambulance from Brighton, took part in the Volunteer Swap programme and worked for a week on the ambulance service with Johanniter in Vienna. During his time in Austria, he was paired up each day with two fellow Johanniter colleagues on either a patient transport vehicle or a medical response vehicle. Read his report about his experience here.

International Summer Camp in Estonia

The annual St John Summer Camp in Estonia aims to offer a joyful time to people with disabilities away from their everyday routine. It is also a valuable experience of social commitment and dedication for the volunteers. The guests enjoy an extraordinary week full of excursions, handicrafts, and sports, but first and foremost appreciation and assistance. The camp is organised by and with volunteers from Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands, France, England and Canada. In July, once more, the programme at the Talu campsite near Tallinn consisted of numerous different activities in which one-on-one care of the guests is central. Continue reading

News from the Members

England: Survey published by St John Ambulance on World First Aid Day

Taking place on the second Saturday in September every year, World First Aid Day aims to raise awareness on how first aid can prevent injuries and save lives in everyday situations. This was the occasion for our English member to conduct a survey of 1,000 young people aged 10-17 and 1,000 adults.  The survey found that 29% of those surveyed said they felt ‘very confident’ in first aid. Discover the survey’s breakdown here.

Germany: Annual Report 2022 published

Johanniter Germany has published its Annual Report for 2022, in which the organisation looks back on another year full of challenges. Next to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine mobilised a major number of Johanniter helpers to care for people. In the past year, more than 76,000 people were involved with the organisation on a full-time or voluntary basis. Its emergency rescue services were deployed more than 843,000 times in total. In addition, our German member taught first aid to over 300,000 people and provided care for 41,500 children in its over 585 daycare centres throughout the country.

Hungary: three-day training organised to care for people with Dementia

Following bilateral cooperation with our Swedish member, Johannita Segitö Szolgálat organised a training on the topic of ‘Dementia’ from 11th to 13th September. The training was led by ‘Silviahemmet’, a Swedish non-profit foundation with the mission to spread knowledge about cognitive illness (dementia) through various educational initiatives. A total of 25 people received diplomas in Budapest, including volunteers of our Hungarian member. The plan is to continue to disseminate the training across the country with home accreditation.

News from Europe

MED1stMR real-life tunnel exercise held in Austria

On 16 September, a large-scale exercise took place at the Zentrum am Berg. A bus accident was simulated in a tunnel. The same scenario has already been virtually trained within the framework of the MED1stMR training. The real-life exercise helps the emergency forces and researchers to compare the training. The tunnel scenario with many casualties brings complex challenges for the emergency services and direct access to the injured is often not possible. It is, therefore, all the more important to prepare for such scenarios and to know which measures to take to minimise the risks to the victims and emergency forces. Continue reading

European Civil Protection Exercise led by Johanniter Germany

From 18th to 22nd September, a medical Module Exercise (MODEX) took place in Canakkale, Turkey, in the frame of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. European teams such as Emergency Medical Teams from Portugal and Romania, an Emergency Laboratory Team from Germany, a Polish Medical Transport Capacity and a Medevac capacity from Slovakia worked together with a European Civil Protection Team and a Finnish Technical Assistance and Support Team (TAST) to improve their skills in preparation for real missions. Have a look at the pictures and videos of the exercise led by Johanniter Germany.

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