TEHRAN –The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) have agreed to maintain the process of finalizing a joint action plan as a roadmap for cooperation.

The IFRC project manager, Faisal Mahboob, said one of the objectives of the meeting is to discuss the details and review the implementation of the action plan which can effectively demonstrate the capabilities of the IRCS in various fields, the IRCS website reported.

“Once finalized in Geneva, the document will act as the roadmap of cooperation,” the official noted.

Razieh Alishvandi, the IRCS director for international affairs, for her part, stressed the need to train experts and support technical and operational sectors. She went on to say, “There is a constructive interaction between the Iranian Red Crescent Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross, we look forward to fostering the same relationship with the International Federation of Red Cross.”

Referring to the capabilities of the IRCS in manufacturing medical and pharmaceutical products and rescue devices, the official said the IRCS seeks to showcase its products to other national societies.

The official also highlighted the IRCS's readiness to share its experience in the successful management of mass gatherings, particularly in Haj and Arbaeen pilgrimages.

In May, the IFRC expressed willingness to expand collaboration with the IRCS.

During a meeting on the sidelines of the preliminary session of the 34th IFRC international conference,  Alishvandi and Xavier Castellanos Mosquera, the IFRC undersecretary general for national society development and operations coordination, discussed ways to enhance cooperation.

During the meeting, Alishvandi elaborated on IRCS capabilities in various fields of sanitary, treatment, rehabilitation, rescue and relief, logistics, education, volunteers, youth, climate change, crescent houses, mass gathering management, textile production, medical organizations, and many other things.

Castellanos Mosquera, for his part, acknowledging that the IRCS is one of the strongest members of the IFRC, said the IRCS could be a role model for other societies.

"Hygiene and medical services provided during Arbaeen and Hajj pilgrimages and other mass gathering management are totally unique," he said.

The official went on to ask the IRCS to share its expertise with IFRC by holding a webinar session and proposed the IFRC managers of different sectors, particularly logistics, and health, visit the IRCS medical equipment, artificial organ and prostheses production, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as rehabilitation centers to learn more about the IRCS experiences and knowledge.

"Despite the fact that the information of the Iranian Red Crescent Society has not yet been fully registered in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent health map, the range of services provided by the organization at the national level has placed it among the top societies compared to 107 national societies that have registered their information, Castellanos Mosquera noted.

He also suggested the full membership of the IRCS in a think tank that is formed to investigate the adverse impacts of sanctions.

MT/MG