Dubai: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) have signed a grant agreement worth AED550,000 ($150,000) in support of the ICRC's health operations in Pakistan.
The two-month program is expected to commence in January 2023 and end in February 2023 and will support the running of the ICRC's mobile clinic, part of the Health on Wheels initiative. The program will provide healthcare for nearly 19,800 persons and routine immunization for approximately 280,000 children under five in flood-affected areas and districts of the Baluchistan region. The program will also include training on pneumonia case management.
Clare Dalton, the ICRC's Head of Delegation in the UAE, said, "We are pleased to announce our new partnership with TBHF, which will support ICRC activities, including primary health care, emergency treatment, and life-saving services to remote communities in need in Pakistan. Our Health on Wheels program aims to provide immediate relief where existing health facilities have been disrupted and then serve as transition facilities until the health systems capacity has been restored”.
Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of TBHF, expressed her gratitude for the partnership with the ICRC, stating, “This collaboration will allow us to provide vital emergency care and promote health resilience in Pakistan, particularly for young children under the age of five, who have been disproportionately affected by the recent devastating floods. We are thrilled to join forces with the ICRC as we continue to support children and their families with a range of essential services, including healthcare, education, and emergency aid.
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About ICRC
The ICRC is an independent, neutral organization ensuring humanitarian protection and assistance for victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence. It takes action in response to emergencies and, at the same time, promotes respect for international humanitarian law. Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The ICRC has been present in the UAE since December 2016.
About TBHF
Originally set up as a fundraising campaign in 2013, The Big Heart Foundation was developed into a full-fledged foundation, in 2015, proceeded by various initiatives and campaigns launched by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bent Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs.
The Foundation’s mandate is to protect and empower vulnerable children and their families in vulnerable situations across the world. Since then, TBHF has provided health, education and emergency aid services – among others – to almost 4 million people in need more than 25 countries.
