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The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss today congratulated the Indian Red Cross Society and the St. John Ambulance for the excellent work rendered by them during one of the worst earthquakes at Bhuj. He was speaking at the inaugural session of the Annual General Meeting of the two organisations. The meeting was inaugurated by the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The Minister outlined the work carried out by the organisations during the earthquake both in terms of rescue and rehabilitation. He said under the rehabilitation programme, 254 anganwadis, 14 sub-health centres, 3 dispensaries, 12 primary health centres were constructed. The Indian Red Cross Society was joined by partners in 44 countries to provide essential relief including water and sanitation services.
The Minister informed the audience that the society has started some good programmes to prevent stignisation of HIV-AIDS patients. A day care centre has been started at Namakkal to provide care to the children who have HIV positive mothers. Youth peer education programme has been started to equip this vulnerable population to face the consequences. The curriculum lays stress on harnessing moral values in them.
The Minister outlined, in detail, the various activities undertaken by the society and underlined the fact that in spite of whatever the society has been able to do, there were still enormous needs to be made.
On the occasion of the Annual General Meeting, a short film on the devastation in Bhuj and the subsequent relief and rehabilitation work undertaken by the Indian Red Cross Society and St. John Ambulance was screened. Awards were given away to several branches of the Indian Red Cross Society for outstanding work and membership enrolment by the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
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