PM Deuba, Red Cross SG meeting concludes

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Jagan Chapagain, held meeting today.

During the meeting, they held talks about the matters of humanitarian service and Red Cross related laws.

Similarly, Chapagain also held separate talks with Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota and Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Uma Regmi.

Chapagain said that he urged to formulate laws related to Red Cross in Nepal.

The IFRC Secretary General called on Foreign Minister Dr Narayan Khadka on Wednesday. He, the first Nepali to be on the post, arrived here on Tuesday evening.

During the visit, he continues to take updates about IFRC and NRCS affairs.

He said he believed in collaborative efforts to sort out issues in the NRCS. He is of the view of issuing the Red Cross law to further systematize the NRCS business. He pledged the IFRC support to the government for the same.

52-year-old Chapagain, who has been in the Red Cross movement since 25 years, assumed the IFRC Secretary General post since February 1, 2020. IFRC is the body of 192 member countries. The IFRC Special Governing Board had elected him on the post on December 3, 2019.

The volunteers and employees of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of IFRC various member countries are mobilizing in the frontline in responding to COVID-19 in recent days. IFRC has continued its actions in reducing natural and man-made disasters as well as the disasters brought about by climate change while extending support to the affected people even amid the pandemic.

Secretary General Chapagain's works and leadership in the humanitarian service sector has won accolades in the IFRC member countries. Nepal Red Cross Society said IFRC had assisted the health institutions with medical equipment and enhancing the capacity of the medical staff and also provided PPEs, masks and sanitizer to health workers during the initial stages of COVID-19 in Nepal. It has provided oxygen concentrators, oxymeters, thermal gun and bags for managing dead bodies as well as coordinated in procurement of vaccines in the latest phase.