The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the China Disabled Person's Federation (CDPF) have agreed to further their cooperation in providing quality service to people with disabilities. The organizations signed a Letter of Intent in Beijing on 28 February marking their agreement.
According to the agreement, the organizations will regularly share information and organize seminars focusing on latest clinical and technical procedures related to physical rehabilitation. The CDPF and its branches will be able to use new techniques and materials developed by the ICRC. They also hope to explore opportunities for cooperation with countries along China's Belt and Road Initiative.
"The general objective of the ICRC's Physical Rehabilitation Programme is to ensure better access to physical rehabilitation. I believe our cooperation can be beneficial for both organizations and those using our services," said Pierre Dorbes, head of the ICRC regional delegation for East Asia in Beijing.
Acknowledging the ICRC's efforts, vice-president of CDPF Jia Yong said they appreciate and value the organization's support towards physical rehabilitation of the disabled in China. "The framework of cooperation is an outcome of our discussions and indicates that we have a lot in common. I believe signing the Letter of Intent is a starting point for better cooperation between the two organizations and together we can explore many more fields in providing humanitarian assistance," said Jia.
The ICRC is committed to helping and protecting people affected by armed conflict and other violence around the world. Launched in 1979, the ICRC's physical rehabilitation services have supported more than 220 projects in 53 countries and one territory.
In China, the physical rehabilitation programme was initiated in 2003 with the cooperation of the Red Cross Society of China to help amputees affected by landmines in Yunnan Province. Over the last 15 years, the programme has provided over 10,000 services to people with physical disabilities. The ICRC has also been working with the Chengdu Second People's Hospital in Sichuan Province since March 2017, to improve its capacities and bring it up to par with international standards of diagnosing and treating patients.
For further information, please contact:
Valery Mbaoh Nana, ICRC Regional Delegation for East Asia, Beijing, tel.: +86 186 0025 3392
Michael Zhang, ICRC Regional Delegation for East Asia, Beijing, tel.: +86 138 1003 5522
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