Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, the President of the Bhutan Red Cross Society, graced the Foundation Day celebration of the organisation in Thimphu yesterday.
The Bhutan Red Cross Society was launched on 8th May 2017 coinciding with the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.
Her Majesty inaugurated a community volunteers’ program in first aid and basic disaster management. The programme will train 58 community volunteers from 20 districts in first aid and basic disaster management.
The volunteers are members of His Majesty’s Retired Armed Forces Society. “We are very blessed to be a member of this society,” Jigme Thinley said.
“I would like to express my gratitude to His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen for giving us this opportunity to be a member of the Red Cross Society. I will give my best in helping my community in times of disasters.”
“I have worked in Royal Bhutan Police before and decided to become a member of the Bhutan Red Cross Society so that I can continue to serve my country,” Dechen Pem, another volunteer said.
“We never know when disasters would strike and we can’t depend solely on the government in times of disasters. I wish to be of help to the country in times of disasters.”
“After the training, I want to help people in my community in times of their disasters,” Wangdi said.
The Bhutan Red Cross Society’s primary mandate is disaster management and preparedness particularly in the areas of health and social services.
The Society aims to complement and support existing voluntary programs in Bhutan in disaster management, health and other social services. It has carried out a number of initiatives such as first aid and disaster response trainings for various groups since its launch last year.
“We don’t know when disasters will strike, but we know is disasters are there next to us” Dragyel Tenzin Dorji, the Secretary General of Bhutan Red Cross Society said.
“For that, we are always preparing. The main intention behind the establishment of Bhutan Red Cross Society is step up disaster preparedness and at the same time play an auxiliary role to the state in the humanitarian field.”
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation has 190 member societies worldwide, working to protect human life, health, and dignity, especially in response to disaster and conflict.
The Bhutan Red Cross Society has been an observer to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent since last year. The Society has 123 members and 116 volunteers at the moment.
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