Red Cross opens 49th Extraordinary Session

The Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) opens its 49th Extraordinary Session of the Mid-term General Assembly in Nimba County. The General Assembly brings together Red Cross workers across Liberia, including volunteers to consolidate and review past works with theme; consolidating our gains and moving forward under the motto: “Caring and Sharing.”

Speaking at the opening of the session, the President for the Liberia National Red Cross Society Jerome N.J. Clarke says the gathering is intended to review present and past activities, and how to move ahead in achieving planned goals.

Mr. Clarke notes that the LNRCS has not been able to preface like before, saying ‘’This one time well-functioning and resilient community building [NS] is currently below the belt in delivering per mandate; day by day it is getting worse financially to up keep and to meet our operational needs as an organization.’’

The Red Cross boss says this has affected the institution’s chapters evidenced by the lack of programs and vulnerability in host communities LNRCS should be serving.

Mr. Clarke however says team spirit and resilience continue to resonate from collective passion to give back to the country.He discloses President George Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor have been empowering and giving dignity to disadvantaged young women through the LNRCS win program as a way of promoting the government’s Pro-poor Agenda.

He says the Red Cross will ensure an effective financial management system, adding, the finance department in close consultation with management has agreed to put measures in place to seek donor’s support.

He further discloses a micro loan scheme has been lunched to salvage few of the Red Cross chapters including chapters in Lofa, Rivercess, Nimba and Gbarpolu counties, respectively with promise that the process will continue to the rest of the chapters in the country.

But Jerome laments the current size of the national society still remains a huge challenge, stressing a need for more volunteers at all levels to make significant improvement, including changes in approach and engagement to gain donor’s attraction.

For his part, Deputy Minister for Internal Affairs Emmett Reeves, pledges government’s readiness to continuously support the Liberia National Red Cross Society to actively achieve its goals.

By Thomas Domah/Nimba–Editing by Jonathan Browne