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| Some volunteers of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos State Branch |
The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Lagos Branch, has urged that the state government consider statutory subvention for its activities.
Mrs Victoria Kolawole, the branch's Chairman, made this appeal in an interview newsmen on Tuesday.
Kolawole praised the state Gov. Babjide Sanwo-Olu for support for the society, urging him to approve subvention for the society’s activities in the state.
“This will enable our noble society to step up humanitarian operations which have recorded a lot of successes in the past four years,” she said.
The chairman said that the society needed ambulances to boost emergency response and humanitarian services.
“Some of the challenges preventing us from working more effectively include unavailability of ambulances and utility vehicles.
“Nothing less than four ambulances will be of great impact because emergencies happen sporadically,” the chairman said.
Kolawole said that more than 50,000 volunteers were working for the society in the area of emergency response, adding that the society would work to increase the number in 2023.
Kolawole, who has led the branch for four years, said: “This past four years have been both interesting and challenging for us as an administration.
“We came on board with the mindset to strengthen the many ways in which our great society imparts communities and the society at large.
“We would not have come this far as an administration if not for the never-ending grace of God, commitment and selflessness of members.”
According to Kolawole, the administration, in spite all odds, was able to renovate the branch’s administrative building, demarcate its school from babies’ home and renovate the chairman’s office.
“Also, we acquired an additional automobile (Toyota Highlander) for ease of movement as well as had facelift of the Henri Dunant Hall and obtained government approval of our school,” she said.
According to the chairman, the branch’s projection for 2023 is to make more impact by creating more awareness about Red Cross in order to save more lives.
Kolawole called for more financial support and donation of equipment and other items from individuals and corporate organisations, to do better.
Recall that the branch recently held its 55th Annual General Meeting during which Kolawole was re-elected as its Chairman.
Some of the other elected executives are Mr Olakunle Lasisi as the Secretary, and Mr Ademola Gafarr as the Finance and Property Management Adviser.