Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, Upper East Regional Minister, on Wednesday, commended the Ghana Red Cross Society for contributing immensely to the socio-economic development of the country.

Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru gave the commendation when he addressed the World Red Cross Day celebration held in Bolgatanga.

Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru, also a Minister of State in charge of Human Resource and Scholarships, cited for example that, during the 2007 floods that destroyed property and displaced many people in the region, the Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) provided relief items and helped to build housing units for the affected families.

“During the Bawku conflicts the GRCS, through the support of the International Red Cross, contributed to feeding about 5000 affected victims in six months and also provided them with other essential relief items,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said to help combat desertification in the region, the GRCS, through the Water Resource Commission, had cultivated 10 hectres of trees at Chuchuliga in the Builsa District of the Upper East Region.

He congratulated the GRCS for complementing the Ghana Health Service to routinely undertake health education campaigns on the outbreak of diseases including Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM), Anthrax, Yellow Fever and Cholera.

“The movement, through its women groups and youth members, educated 17,500 people during the outbreak of CSM and cholera in 2012, in the Builsa and Kassena–Nankana districts; while the youth members sensitized a total 8,000 people in schools on the HIV/AIDS pandemic,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said the establishment of day nurseries and junior high schools by the GRCS in the region had contributed immensely to education delivery, adding that it had also trained 600 teachers and 350 drivers on how to administer first aid to accident victims.

He assured the GRCS that he would do everything within his power to support it deliver effectively.

Mr Kofi Addo, Secretary General of the GRCS, said the Society had a total of 600,000 volunteers in the country and was the largest humanitarian organization that responded rapidly to emergency situations.

Mr Joseph Abarike, Regional Manager of the GRCS, said the Society made it possible for members of the Regional Security Council to be trained in International Human Law.

He appealed to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority to support the Red Cross Mothers in the region to go into farming including tree growing.

Mr Abarike mentioned the means of transport as one of the major challenges confronting the GRCS and appealed to the Regional Minister to assist.