08 Jun 2022

 Over 1.8million individuals from different areas across the country have benefitted from the Botswana Red Cross Society (BRCS) humanitarian interventions in the past two years.

Speaking during a press conference in Gaborone on Tuesday, BRCS Chief Executive Officer Mr Kutlwano Mukokomani said his organisation was on the right course and had so far faired well in the set targets over the last two years.

Mr Mukokomani said one of their key successes during the COVID-19 pandemic was giving out quality humanitarian services and reaching out to more areas and people, especially those in the hard-to-reach communities.

He said that the humanitarian services included engagement of over 3 000 volunteers during the COVID-19 response, livelihood projects to address food security, cash bases and voucher programmes to cushion beneficiaries from the COVID-19 aftermaths, distribution of food and essential items, wash programmes and community-based rehabilitation services.

He added that the interventions and partnership gained over the last two years had further solidified their mandate and capacity as a humanitarian partner of choice.

 “In as much as there was donor fatigue due to COVID-19, we were able to form partnerships that strengthened and re-established relationships with key stakeholders,” said Mr Mukokomani.

Mr Mukokomani said this also helped BRCS to aggressively develop and update its internal policies and systems to improve its operational and financial credibility.

On the mandate of BRCS, Mr Mukokomani said it was formed as an auxiliary to Botswana government to provide support on issues of health, social services and disaster management adding that they were guided by fundamental principles of among others humanity and voluntary services.

“We pride ourselves with a volunteer base of over 10 000 and 46 branches across eight Districts,” he said, adding that they had over the years contributed significantly to health, social services, disaster management, blood donation, HIV and AIDS, first Aid services, as well as in the fight against gender-based violence, disability and COVID-19. ends