His Excellency the state president of the republic of Malawi Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika who is also the patron of Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) has urged Malawians and the Private sector in Malawi to support Malawi Red Cross.

The remarks were made on Tuesday at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre during the launch of the 2018 Red Cross flag week. Mutharika said MRCS does a very commendable work in saving lives of Malawians during disasters, sitting this year’s Kaliyeka, Mchesi, Biwi and Mtandire flodds in Lilongwe for example where Red Cross Volunteers were first responders and last to leave the affected areas.  He said the humanity work MRCS does in Malawi cannot go without cerebration, hence his acceptance to inaugurate the flag week.

Patron of MRCS President Mutharika pose in photo with MRCS staff and Volunteers

He appealed to the private sector to invest more in the welfare of the vulnerable communities by donating to MRCS. On his part, the president assured MRCS that he is committed to see to it that Government budgetary support to MRCS resumes. He then made a personal donation of 1 Million Kwacha cheque to Malawi Red Cross Society.

Speaking during the event MRCS president Levison Changole thanked the president for inaugurating the Red Cross flag week besides his busy schedule. He assured government that MRCS will continue to provide a diverse and enterprising range of services tailored to the needs of vulnerable local communities, helping people prepare for, deal with and recover from crisis.

“This year’s flag week campaign cerebrated under a theme “Everywhere for Everyone” aims to broaden public understanding of the work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent by featuring the diverse and innovative range of services around the world, and challenging the traditional view of Movement with a smile. The Malawi Red Cross Society has been involved in disasters engaging policy and decision makers on humanitarian action, visiting detainees and supporting vulnerable migrants and refugees through tracing and restoration of family links amongst other things.”

Red Cross flag week is an annual fund-raising event held every May to mobilize resources and donations to enable the society raise funds necessary to respond to disasters that mostly benefit those people in need. It is also used as an opportunity to sensitize and remind people on the importance of saving lives and to take part in humanitarian activities in natural disasters.

MRCS president presented a gift of Red Cross cloth to the patron and the first lady madam Dr. Gertrude Mutharika.