Abu Dhabi: Celebrating the World First Aid Day, the UAE-based volunteer humanitarian organization, Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) recently organized the 9th Annual First Aid Forum which witnessed the participation from relevant local and international first aid and rescue entities.
Participants at the event showcased their experiences in community first aid and the advanced equipment used in first aid and emergency cases.
The event was attended by Mr. Hamoud Abdullah Al Junaibi, Secretary-General of the ERC, Dr. Nasser Humaid Al Nuaimi, Acting Director-General of the Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Centre for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (ADCMC), and several ERC representatives.
In his address to the attendees, Mr. Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, Deputy Secretary-General of the Local Affairs Sector at the ERC, pointed out that the Forum is part of the ERC’s community awareness efforts, while emphasizing that the world is witnessing an escalation in crises and disasters that directly affect humanitarian conditions worldwide.
Under these conditions, it is important to keep pace with local developments and cooperate with official authorities, who are efficient and influential players in the community, he stated. Due to the vision of its leadership, the UAE was among the first countries to prioritize the engagement of relevant authorities and entities and the public in supporting humanitarian and volunteer action
Mr. Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri highlighted.
The Forum took place as part of the ERC’s operational plan covering community health and first aid, Mr. Al Mansouri elaborated, confirming that the ERC is guided by the pillars of the ten-year Strategy 2023 of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and is implementing local projects to enhance the community’s capacity in relevant areas, as a supporter of official authorities.
“To achieve these goals, the ERC has strengthened its partnership with relevant authorities and is organizing various training programs,” Mr. Al Mansouri shared, adding that it had intensified its efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve the local community’s awareness of preventive measures.
“Training national cadres in these vital areas is a noble goal that we aim to achieve, and provide them with the means of success,” the ERC official stated.
In her address at the Forum, Ms. Claire Dalton, Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in the UAE, commended the spirit of the humanitarian partnership between the ERC and the ICRC, and remarked that, “We are pleased to be part of this forum, which deals with an important topic related to saving and protecting lives.”
Ms. Dalton highlighted the efforts of the 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies affiliated with the IFRC to reduce human suffering caused by emergencies and crises, through the work of 17 million volunteers from around the world.