The head of the Pacific regional Cooperation delegation from Suva office, Mr. Micahel Oeke is with the Solomon Islands Red Cross for a three-days visit to sign a cooperation agreement with the local Red Cross Secretary General (Ms Nancy Jolo).
According to Ms Jolo the Cooperation agreement covers the supports towards the SI Red Cross Law and Fundamental Principles Dissemination (LFP) and the Family Visits Program for relatives of the detainees. Besides, it is an opportunity to discuss some financial and activity matters concerning the LFP and Family Visits by Mr. Oeke with the respective program officers. He is expected to leave the country by Friday this week to Suva.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) supports those two programs under the Pacific Regional Cooperation with the Pacific Red Cross Societies.
Solomon Islands Red Cross (SIRC) has received twelve resuscitation manikins courtesy of Triathlon Solomon Islands(Tri SI) and the Australian High Commission.
The manikins were funded under an Australian Sports Outreach Program grant, for use in the Tri SI Children's Swimming Program.
In 2008, SIRC provided resuscitation training for 30 Tri SI athletes, teaching them basic first aid techniques as part of a series of Saturday morning swimming and first aid lessons. The athletes learnt to check for danger; practised EAR and CPR resuscitation on adult, child and baby manikins and learnt how to treat cuts and burns.
Tri SI President, MaxonAla, in handing over the manikins today said the training had been a vital part of the development of triathlon in Solomon Islands, particularly as the triathletes are involved in conducting swimming classes for school children.
He stressed that having basic life support skills is an important life skill and applicable in any emergency, which would not have been possible without the generous support of the Australian High Commission.
The handover of manikins for future first aid training at the SIRC office in New Chinatown coincides with the first day of a week long training course for twelve community based representatives, who will spend this week developing skills to enable them to teach basic first aid in their own communities.
SIRC Deputy Secretary General, Lorimo Tuke, thanked Tri SI and the Australian High Commission for providing valuable resources to support this essential training.
He said the manikins would enable the Red Cross to expand its first aid training program, providing communities with important skills that could one day save a life.
About five young SI Red Cross volunteers trained in First Aid have assisted the fire fighters to control the crowd and search for casaulties of the Ranadi fire which occured this afternoon.
According a volunteer on the ground with the fire operation his team helped to control the crowd from going closer to the burned shops.
"Many from the crowd who watched moved into shops. But the risk of anyone had accident was also inevitable. So we assisted the Police and fire fighters to ensure our people were not felt victims to the fire", he said.
According to the team's finding no one was injured in the fire.
Mission Statement: To improve the lives of people in need without discrimination, through voluntary work with people. (Solomon Pijin translation-----"Waka blong Solomon Islands Red Cross hemi fo kamapem gud laef blong pipol nidim help, nomata hu nao iu, tru waka wetem pipol.")
Brief Background of Solomon Islands Red Cross: Solomon Islands Red Cross Society, by the act of the National Parliament (a separate act from the Non Governmental Organizations Act) in 1983 established as an auxiliary (extra supporter) of the state dedicated to protecting human life and dignity in the Solomon Islands, thereby promoting lasting peace.
Hundreds of people in the Red Cross help those hurt by armed conflict, social disturbances, natural disasters, and other human tragedies. Victims around the country and region come to trust the people of the Red Cross to be there to provide important humanitarian services.
The people of the organization help anyone in urgent need. No regard is paid to political, racial, religious, or ideological differences. No point of view or person is favoured over another. Neither influence nor pressure will change these facts.
But the Solomon Islands Red Cross is more than a philosophy, or a historical institution. It is the part of a worldwide belief that human life and dignity are worthy of respect and protection from ravages of man and nature. It is a belief made real every day by the actions of skilled and trained people who are moved by a deep personal desire to help others without regard for their own material gain.
Red Cross members help people to prepare for, recover from, and, if possible, prevent the effects of tropical cyclones, floods, fires, sea level rise, diseases, or other disasters that threaten individuals or communities.They help people prevent and handle emergencies through Commercial and Community Based First Aid trainings and health skills. Where needed and possible, they save hundreds of lives by promoting reliable supply of blood. They also share the resources necessary to improve service to people throughout the Solomon Islands, regionally, and internationally. They give new direction in the lives of the disable children through special education to read and write in sign language. Today, disable children are our aspirations who contribute in making Solomon Islands a better place for humanity.
The financial support of individuals, business houses, donor friends, and governments makes this work possible.
