By Ovat Abeng
Anambra State Chairman of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Prof Charity Ifeyinwa Emelie, has said the Society is the largest Humanitarian Organisation in Nigeria with a volunteer strength of over eight hundred thousand, spread across the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.
Emelie disclosed this while briefing Journalists at the State Headquarters Amawbia-Awka, on Wednesday, as part it activities to mark the 2024 World Red Cross Day celebration.
She said the celebration will also feature award presentation to the wife of the state governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo and other Nigerians who have been so kind to Red Cross Society in the state.
She noted that the Society is the largest because of it vision and mission to alleviate the situation of the vulnerable people which include those affected by disaster, epidemics, armed conflicts and the poorest communities in both Urban and rural areas amongst whom are women, children, aged, displaced and vulnerable people.
Read Also: Empowering Tech Skills: 3MTT Networking Meetup in Anambra Sets New Standards Technology
According to her, “Under section 5(1) of the 1960 Act, it provides that the society shall be recognized by the Government of the Federation as a voluntary Aid Society, auxillary to the public authorities. This means that we are legally required by the Law and the general conventions of which Nigeria is a state party to help the public authorities in the area of humanitarian interventions.
“The fundamental principles of the Society, ” Humanity, impartiality, independence, voluntary service and universality are key to the movement identity.
“The principles also provides a common bond for the National Societies, which vary greatly in structure, culture and membership.
“Red Cross is not a single organisation, it is composed of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the 191 individual National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
“We provide relief in times of disasters/emergencies, we reconnect families separated by crises, we help to rebuild communities devastate by disasters and the promotion of health and care of the vulnerable people and communities in the World.
On her achievements, Prof. Emelie who is also the Dean, Faculty of Law, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam, Anambra State, said in less than five months in office, the Society have been able to pay four months salary out of the seven months arrears she inherit, and she have been paying staff salary as at when due.
Other achievements she mentioned include, feeding of hundred vulnerable people at Nkpor, Oba and Nnewi communities respectively, during World Love Day, inauguration of special branch rapid response team that attends to emergencies, reactivation of the sleeping and dead divisions and the reformation of national registration and production of National Identity cards for members, which described as first of its kind in the state.
While commending the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo, for his continued support to the Society in the state, the Chairman, also listed donation of non consumable clinical materials to eleven selected health centers, drilling and reactivation of water projects, the distribution of food items, non-food items, renovation of 50 houses, distribution of N61,000 cash to thousands of household affected by flood in some communities in Ogbaru, Anambra East/West, Ayamelum, Awka North, among others as other major achievements the society have recorded so far in the state.
It was gathered that the briefing with the theme” Keeping Humanity Alive” has in attendence representatives from the DSS, FRSC, Civil Defence Corp, Man ‘O War and the media.
