By Moses Mugugunyeki
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) has hailed volunteers and staff, who are doing everything they can to support communities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Friday, ZRCS joined the rest of the global community in celebrating World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.
This year’s commemorations, which come at a time when the world is battling the Covid-19 pandemic, are running under the theme #KeepClapping.
ZRCS national president Edson Mlambo said the day was an important event as it allows them to reflect on the work of its volunteers and staff across the country.
The organisation’s work is hinged on volunteerism while members of staff are there to facilitate the programmes.
“We always say that the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society is everywhere for everyone, every day,” said Mlambo.
“In 2020, this is more important than ever. Our volunteers are hard at work helping vulnerable individuals and communities to protect themselves from Covid-19, and we’re still providing many other services that people need to keep themselves safe and healthy.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“Each and every volunteer in Zimbabwe deserves applause, and we encourage everyone to #KeepClapping on 8 May.”
Mlambo said ZRCS volunteers had been active in communities since the novel coronavirus was first detected, helping people to prepare, sharing life-saving health information to stop the spread of the disease, and working to limit its impact on the most vulnerable members of society.
“These programmes have been carried out alongside the work ZRCS is well-known for in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“Every year, we reach thousands of people with a diverse range of services tailored for local needs, such as food security and livelihoods support, medical services, restoration of family links, water and sanitation, emergency response, disaster risk reduction, first aid and nurse aide trainings.”
Apart from other humanitarian activities linked to Covid-19, the ZRCS has also pledged to support the national response plan through expansion of its current clinical interventions at the Red Cross Clinic so as to go beyond screening, and also collect samples from suspected cases as well as establishing isolation centres firstly in Harare then potentially across the country.
The ZRCS has also provided its staff and volunteers as well as other frontline workers with personal protective equipment as well dissemination of information on risk communication and health promotion.
