KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Jagan Chapagain, held a meeting Thursday. During the meeting, they talked about matters of humanitarian service and Red Cross-related laws.

Similarly, Chapagain also held separate talks with Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota and Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizen, Uma Regmi.

IFRC Secretary-General Chapagain said he urged to formulate laws related to Red Cross in Nepal during the meetings. He also called on Foreign Minister Dr Narayan Khadka on Wednesday.

Chapagain, the first Nepali to hold the top post, arrived here on Tuesday evening. During the visit, he continues to take stock of affairs of IFRC and Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS). He said he believed in collaborative efforts to sort out issues in the NRCS. He is of the view that issuing Red Cross-related laws would further systematize the NRCS business. He pledged the IFRC support to the government for the same.

52-year-old Chapagain, who has been in the Red Cross movement for 25 years, has assumed the IFRC Secretary General post since February 1, 2020. IFRC is the body of 192 member countries. The IFRC Special Governing Board had elected him on the post on December 3, 2019.

The volunteers and employees of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of IFRC from various member countries are at the frontline in responding to COVID-19 in recent days. IFRC has continued its actions in reducing natural and man-made disasters as well as the disasters brought about by climate change while extending support to the affected people even amid the pandemic.

Secretary General Chapagain’s works and leadership in the humanitarian service sector have won accolades in the IFRC member countries. NRCS said IFRC had assisted health institutions with medical equipment to enhance the capacity of the medical staff and also granted PPEs, masks and sanitizer to health workers during the initial stages of COVID-19 in Nepal. It has provided oxygen concentrators, oxymeters, thermal gun and bags for managing dead bodies as well as coordinated in the procurement of vaccines in the latest phase.