Red Cross mobilizes 12,000 volunteers for emergencies, health concerns in Anambra

www.odogwublog.com reports that more than 12,000 volunteers have been mobilized

by the Nigerian Red Cross Society to attend to emergencies and health concerns during the forthcoming general elections in Anambra.

The Vice-Chairman of Red Cross in Anambra, Prof. Peter Katchy, told newsmen in Onitsha yesterday that those meant for rapid response among the volunteers would be seen with Red Cross vest close to the polling booths.

Katchy noted that the Red Cross would cover the remotest part of the state since ``it has members in all council areas in the state including the ones in riverine areas’’.

``We are prepared for this election, but you know our own preparation is in rapid and emergency response to emergency situations, disaster situations or any violent situation.

``For the past months, we have been campaigning violence and violence-free polls so that we will have free polls without violence.

``Our presence (Red Cross presence) is felt in 21 local governments of Anambra State; we have more than 12,000 volunteers and out of that more than 12,000 volunteers, we have what is called standing rapid response teams.

``Which have been trained for many years and they have been responding to emergency,’’ he said.

Katchy, however, urged politicians to play politics with decorum; adding that they should devoid heating up the polity and using violent languages.

He also advised youths to be wise and not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause mayhem and violence anywhere in the country.

``And we are urging parents to talk to their youthful children not to be allowed to be used by these politicians to cause problem.

``We are also talking to the youths themselves not to allow themselves to become causalities.

``Those who will engage the youths will never be causalities but it is the youth that would be the major loser because they would be exposed and at the end those people (politicians) will not be reached.

``And their children are kept safe in far away countries, most of their children are in foreign countries; their children are not coming out as thugs; their children are in safe keep,’’ he said.

The vice chairman maintained that no political ambition of any individual in the country would be worth the blood of any Nigeria.