NEELUM VALLEY (Kashmir English): A three-day workshop on epidemic awareness, preventive measures, prevention, risk communication, community engagement, and gender protection was organized by the Pakistan Red Cross, Azad Kashmir, in Neelum district, concluded.
Volunteers and staff of the Mobile Health Unit of Neelum district participated in the workshop. This training program aimed to create awareness and knowledge about epidemic diseases, inform the public about preventive measures, and promote practical measures at the local level that can protect the public from epidemic diseases.
The workshop was organized in collaboration with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society National Headquarters, Islamabad, and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
On this occasion, Dr. Salma Bibi, Senior Program Manager, Health, and Arousa Kathi, Program Manager, Community Engagement, of the International Federation of the Red Cross, also attended and provided technical assistance.
Addressing the closing ceremony as the special guest, Chairman Azad Kashmir Red Crescent Sardar Shafiq Ahmed Khan said, “Epidemics are a major problem in Pakistan as well as the world, and this workshop aims to enhance the capacity of volunteers and encourage them to adopt safe behaviors to reduce the loss of precious lives.”
He said that dengue and other epidemics claim precious lives every year, but the Red Crescent has always played an important role in raising public awareness.
The Chairman added that “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Azad Kashmir Red Crescent, in collaboration with the Health Department, participated in the vaccination of more than 25,000 people and also ran a public awareness campaign.”
He said, “Thanks to the V2R project, many areas of Neelum district were protected from flood disasters. The protective walls installed by the Red Crescent saved people’s lives and property from damage.”
Deputy Commissioner Neelum Nadeem Janjua said in his address that “the services of the Red Crescent are unforgettable, the organization has always helped the people in natural disasters, earthquakes, floods, and epidemics.”
He said that the district administration will continue to fully cooperate with the Red Crescent. Superintendent of Police Neelum Khawaja Siddique, Major Asad Naqvi, and Akhtar Ayub of the District Disaster Management Authority also attended the workshop.
Secretary Red Crescent Azad Kashmir Gulzar Fatima said in her address that “the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement is providing services in 191 countries of the world based on humanitarian sympathy.”
She announced that “financial assistance will be provided to the flood-affected people in Neelum and Muzaffarabad districts soon.” At the end of the ceremony, certificates were also distributed among the training participants.
