SVG Red Cross Society holds month of activities to celebrate achievements

The SVG Red Cross Society will celebrate the achievements of the society as well as show appreciation for its volunteers during the month of May.{{more}}

The celebrations will also include the commemoration of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day on May 8, 2012.

President of the SVG Red Cross Society Bernard Morgan, during an interview with SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday, stated that the local society will dedicate the entire month of May to the work of the Red Cross in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and also use the month’s celebration to honour the many volunteers of the organization.

May 8 is celebrated as World Red Cross / Red Crescent Day each year, as it is the birthday of the founder of the organization Henry Dunant.

Communications Officer Rendal Allen, also stated that the Red Cross will hold a Disaster Preparedness Seminar on May 14 when they will assess Disaster Preparedness Readiness and cover topics such as damage assessment and shelter preparedness.

Volunteers will also be trained.

Morgan also stated that they will hold two exhibitions on May 8. One will be held in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, just outside the Post Office in Kingstown. That exhibition will address health issues such as HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections, along with other public health issues affecting persons.

Simultaneously on May 8, there will be an exhibition at the SVG Red Cross Society Headquarters, where there will be booths set up to display information on first aid and CPR. Additionally SVG Red Cross items such as T-Shirts, flash drives, badges will be on sale at the exhibition.

Morgan added that the society will focus on the youths. Morgan added that the society, which operates around the theme “Youth on the Move”, will be encouraging young persons to become volunteers with the organization. He added that the society had a large amount of young persons who are volunteers and also have groups established in several secondary schools.

The society will also have an essay competition, visitation to schools, and a series of radio and television programmes. A dollar appeal will also be launched in which the public will be asked to contribute a dollar towards the work of the Red Cross.

Morgan added that by the end of the month, the Society hopes to have acquired new volunteers as well as have informed the general public about the work and initiatives of the SVG Red Cross Society.