A high level delegation of the Canadian Red Cross led by Mr Conrad Sauvé, Secretary General & Chief Executive Officer, visited the Indian Red Cross, National Headquarters on 21.08.2012. Prof (Dr) S.P Agarwal, Secretary General , IRCS welcomed the guests in a meeting which was held at Multipurpose Conference Facility. Apart from the officers of the IRCS (NHQ), the meeting was attended by Mr John Roche, Head of the India office, International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies, as well as the Heads of delegation of Partner National Societies i.e. Canadian Red Cross , German Red Cross & Spanish Red Cross.

In his brief address, Dr Agarwal said that the Canadian Red Cross has been partnering the IRCS for many years. Lauding the role of CRC as the largest homecare providing agency in its country , he said that IRCS looked forward to their experience and expertise in its endeavour to start this course in National Headquarters.
Speaking briefly about the IRCS programmes , like the Certified First Medical Responders programme; as well as the academic programmes running in the NHQ like the Certificate course of Health Promotion through “Ayurveda and Yoga” & “Post Graduate Course in Disaster Preparedness & Rehabilitation”, Dr Agarwal said that IRCS looked forward to the increasing support and cooperation of CRC in India.

Mr Sauve in his address said that the CRC cherished its long association with IRCS, which should be celebrated. He also expressed that the two should take the association to the next level and said that his visit was a step in that direction.

The delegation took a round of the facility and was impressed by the infrastructure at the Disaster Management Centre which included the GIS lab, HAM Radio Centre and well stocked library. Mr Sauve also showed keen interest in the Certificate course of Health Promotion through Ayurveda and Yoga and also participated in the evening session of the same.