BEIJING: The recent conferring of the Henry Davison Award－one of the most distinguished humanitarian awards in the world to the Red Cross Society of China symbolizes a full recognition of the society’s contribution to domestic and global development and progress, said Chen Zhu, president of the society.
The award, announced on Sunday, recognizes the society’s extraordinary efforts devoted to aiding China in battling the initial outbreak of COVID-19, and the implementation of regular novel coronavirus control measures, he said.
“The society has provided comprehensive antivirus equipment and other materials to members of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and sent domestic experts to other countries including Iran, Iraq and Italy to help them fight the virus,” he said during a recent interview.
So far, the society has provided anti-epidemic materials to more than 40 countries and launched a number of online seminars to share experiences.
It has also supplied 1.6 million COVID-19 vaccines to 12 countries and will provide five million more doses to 15 countries and regions in the near future, according to Chen.
The award was established by the IFRC in 2003 and is named after its founder, Henry Davison.
It is presented biannually in recognition of “outstanding service in improving the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity”.
This year’s awardees also included the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, the Red Crescent Society of Iran and an outstanding volunteer recommended by the Somali Red Crescent Society.
–The Daily Mail-China Daily news exhange item
