Kedir Awol Omar lauded the Indian medical services for its key role in times of crisis, stressing that such role should be performed to the highest standard of medical care with compassion and humanity.
Awol, who is the regional head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, was the guest of honour at THE WEEK Health Summit.
He spoke about the role of the medical profession in ensuring humanitarian aid during times of disaster, and the reach of the ICRC in addressing those affected by crisis as well as national disasters. He described the ICRC as a ‘global humanitarian network’ of 80 million people and 192 national societies.
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The ICRC provides health care not only on the frontlines but also in peace time. It has a special focus on reaching people in remote areas. Besides that, it also offers technical and financial support to primary health care on an ad-hoc basis.
Doctors, nurses and health care workers step up not just in emergencies, Awol said, but also at all times. “It goes beyond individuality… (ensuring) every life is valued”.
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The regional ICRC serves India, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives. Its services have included providing care during times of national disasters, while also improving the quality of first aid provided at all times, besides offering responses in times of outbreak—be it Nipah or monkey pox.
The ICRC also has a field hospital operational in Gaza since May this year. This hospital has offered consultation services to 30,000 while 1,500 surgeries have been performed.
Awol also touched on the role of ‘transformative power’ of technology while sounding a note of caution on the safeguards that need to be put into place.
He reiterated the Committee’s promise to stand with India ‘shoulder to shoulder’ in all times.
