Red Cross raises funds for cholera awareness

THE Morobe branch of the PNG Red Cross Society is embarking on fundraising activities to help sustain its cholera response operations.
Branch coordinator Chris Lucas said yesterday that currently around 50 trained volunteers were actively doing door-to-door awareness in the vulnerable communities, with most volunteers using their own monies and resources.
Demonstrating the true spirit of dedicated volunteerism, he said they were using their own pocket money to pay for bus fares, print materials and refreshments.
The branch will also be hosting a fundraising dance at Club 69 on Thursday, with all proceeds to go towards their awareness on cholera, which is now deemed to be in its second wave of attack.
“This fundraising dance will be special, with a cholera and HIV/AIDS information booth and basic first aid station to be set up outside the dance venue, where party goers will be assisted and supplied with information freely,” Mr Lucas said.
The charity organisation has a strong volunteer base in the local communities, with the Morobe branch as one of its biggest in the country.
Meanwhile, the branch has expressed concern at the manner in which a Labu -Tali couple were kept hostage allegedly by the Bumatu people of Buang, following the conflict between the two neighbouring ethnic groups.
Mr Lucas said the holding of a couple hostage is in “complete violation of the international human rights law”.