Malawi: Secretary General for the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Jagan Chapagain concluded a 4-day visit to Malawi. The final day of the trip was Wednesday, February 14.
The Secretary-General appreciated how the Malawi Red Cross Society is playing its auxiliary humanitarian role to Malawians with support from the IFRC. He met many critical members of the Malawi government during the trip
During the four day mission, he held several bilateral talks with Minister of Health and the Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change.
Halima Daudi, the Deputy Minister of Health said “We have had a good working relationship with Malawi Red Cross volunteers. The volunteers are working with our HSAs.
“As a ministry, we have achieved a lot in our campaigns due to the role these volunteers play. We just need to strengthen and expanding the linkage between them and our HAS’s to achieve more in public Health Emergencies.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change Michael Usi, asked for enough financing, if the climate change battle is to be won. He decried that more pledges are made but with little fulfillment.
Further, he asked IFRC to continue supporting the Malawi government through MRCS. The IFRC Secretary General also met the President of the Republic of Malawi Dr. Lazarus Chakwera at the Kamuzu Palace.
During the meeting, he said “We thank you Mr. President for being the patron of Malawi Red Cross Society. We continue to work with your government in the battle against climate related crises” said Jagan, as President Chakwera applauds MRCS for being a key partner in disaster management.
In Blantyre, Jagan visited houses that are being constructed under the IFRC Tropical Cyclone Freddy emergency appeal, where he commended the initiative and pledged more support from IFRC to the Malawi Red Cross.
Other activities he participated in were:
The Presentation of letters of credence to Malawi’s foreign affairs minister Nancy Tembo. The ceremony happened after the Malawi Government granted the Humanitarian body a legal status in Malawi.
The letters were presented by the IFRC head of cluster for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe John Roche, He also interacted with Heads of Missions and various corporate institutions and partners to woo more collaboration with MRCS.
Before concluding his mission, Chapagain interacted with the MRCS Board, Senior Management and members of staff. Here he commended MRCS work of responding to the needs of communities through various interventions when a disaster hit Malawi.