By Our Correspondent
The Anambra State branch of the Nigerian Red Cross Society has provided support for healthy living activities to 5,000 people and trained many communities on essential health services in Anambra State.
Addressing stakeholders during activities to mark this year’s Red Cross Day in Awka, the state chairman of the society, Professor Charity Emelie said the Red Cross also trained and equipped a dedicated group of volunteers under its Branch Rapid Response Team, BRRT, adding that the trainees were deployed to 150 emergencies, including sites of road traffic accidents, building collapses and fire outbreaks.
She said that through an ECOWAS -sponsored programme, the Red Cross distributed food items and cash support to 1,000 households in Awka North and Ogbaru local government areas.
Similarly, she said that with support from the International Federation of the Red Cross, IFRC, the Anambra branch reached over 1,000 households in Anambra West, Ayamelum and Ogbaru local government areas with cash assistance, non food items and dignity kits for women.
She added: “The Anambra State branch of the Red Cross contributes significantly to the downscaling of flood through early warning strategies and early action mechanisms in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency,NEMA, and State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA.
“We also trained 30 local volunteers in Ogbaru and Anambra West, to strengthen grassroots emergency preparedness.
” We also implemented impactful community projects, including the renovation of teachers’ quarters and the school library at Community Primary School, Obeagu in Ogbaru local government area, while water borehole was constructed in Innoma Community in Anambra West local government area, thereby improving access to clean water.”
According to her, the Red Cross also partnered with the state Primary Health Care Development Agency to build the capacity of healthcare workers to improve community acceptance of immunization programmed.
She called for more support from the executive and legislative arms of government, adding that while humanitarian challenges were getting higher at astronomical rate, the funding is dwindling.
“We need vehicles, drugs and financial support for the various orphanage homes to enable us pay the school fees and ensure the upkeep of these orphans”, she said.
