IN A bid to inject new life into the over 60-year-old organisation, executives of the Jamaica Red Cross have embarked on a membership campaign to encourage Jamaicans to join the movement.

The campaign was launched on Monday at the Knutsford Court Hotel where a number of public figures present signed up for membership.

While encouraging persons to come on board, vice-president of the Jamaica Red Cross, Jaslin Salmon, said by doing so, they would be taking steps to bolster the effectiveness of the country in instances of emergency.

"Through this medium, we seek to impress on the Jamaican people the importance of joining the Jamaica Red Cross, thereby helping us to do more, do better and reach further," Salmon said.

"We seek to inform the people of Jamaica that by joining the Jamaica Red Cross, they will have the opportunity to become less reliant on outside support and more self-sufficient in addressing the needs of vulnerable Jamaicans," he added.

Salmon also disclosed that by improving membership, the Jamaica Red Cross would be better equipped to fulfil its role as an auxiliary to the Government.

In the meantime, director of emergency, disaster management and special services in the Ministry of Health, Dr Marion Bullock-Ducasse, used the occasion to express her gratitude to the movement for the work it has been doing over the years.

nedburn.thaffe@gleanerjm.com