THE Minister for Health, Professor Dr Kyaw Myint, praised the Myanmar Red Cross Society for implementing community-based health care services at a ceremony held in Yangon on May 8 to mark World Red Cross Day.

Dr Kyaw Myint was speaking at the opening of the ceremony at the Institute of Nursing in Lanmadaw township.

Dr Kyaw Myint said members of MRCS and volunteers were working with medical staff to help the Health Ministry achieve its objectives of a disease-free society in which citizens enjoyed a full life expectancy.

“Because of the combined activities of MRCS members and medical staff, success has been achieved in the prevention and control of diseases, the promotion of health standards and giving health education talks to the public,” he said.

Dr Kyaw Myint said the three main activities of the MRCS were promoting public health, preventing disease and assisting victims of disasters.

The president of the society, Dr Hla Myint, said its activities were in line with its vision to be the leading community-based humanitarian organisation for the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

Dr Hla Myint praised the contribution made by volunteers to the society’s activities.

More than 100 awards for outstanding service were presented to MRCS members at the ceremony and to township teams from throughout the country which had won emergency drill and first aid competitions.

A joint message from the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr Jakob Kellenberger, and the president of the International

Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Mr Juan Manuel Suarez del Toro, was read at the ceremony by the head of the IFRC delegation in Myanmar, Ms Joanna MacLean.

The message addressed the theme chosen for the day: ‘Protecting Human Dignity.’