ERCS Holds 16th General Assembly

Post Date: Monday, August 04, 2014 The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) held its 16th General Assembly on November 1 and 2, 2013 at the Societys Training Center in Addis Ababa. While officially opening the General Assembly Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of the FDRE and Patron of ERCS, said that the Society that had been established 78 years ago was able to be a reputable society both at the national and international arena through the support of the government, volunteers, members and supporters. This success, according to the President, is attributed to the dignity of its motives, its respect to human beings, humanitarian services it renders and its firm stands towards the Red Cross principles. The Society, in collaboration with sister Red Cross Red Crescent societies and partners, has significantly contributed towards reaching out for people affected by natural and manmade disasters as well as preventing diseases and providing health services, Dr. Mulatu noted. According to Dr. Mulatu, ERCS endeavors in providing assistance to compatriots affected by climate change induced food insecurity and reducing the multifaceted social and economic burden caused by HIV/AIDS is notable. ERCS has been mainly relying on foreign aid to execute its community based developmental and humanitarian activities he also said. Hence, it is necessary to look for ways of self-reliance, since foreign aid is only subsidiary to own effort. The President called for ERCS board members along with its Headquarters, regional branch offices, members and partners to work in unison to boost up the income of the Society in order to be self reliant. President Dr. Mulatu has reaffirmed that his government would continue supporting the Society. He also vowed to closely follow up the activities of the Society. He further underlined that the Society is expected to carry out enormous activities thereby achieving it dignified goals through transparent, accountable and corruption free manner so that it would be more effective and exemplary for the rest of Africa. Ato Daniel, who mentioned that the Society has been in a reform and change process, also said that it laid down the foundation to provide basic humanitarian services through capacity building based on domestic resource and becoming self reliant step by step. Representatives of IFRC and ICRC also attended and addressed the General Assembly. Also in the meeting ERCS board activities report and a six sectioned performance report of the past two budget years were presented by the then Vice President, Dr. Ahmed Reja, and the Secretary General, W/ro Frehiwot Worku, respectively. The General Assembly endorsed the reports unanimously after a thorough discussion. The General Assembly also discussed on other documents dealing with activities of budgetary issues as well as a draft to amend the current charter of the Society. Before winding up the meeting, members of the General Assembly nominated and elected new board members in which the former vice president of ERCS, Dr. Ahmed Reja re-elected as one of the nine board members hitherto became President of the Society, replacing Ato Daniel Tegenu. Furthermore, W/ro Meaza Ashenafi and Ato Abebe Kebede are elected as vice president and treasurer, respectively. The newly elected board has vowed to work solemnly and diligently for the achievement of the Societys objectives.