(KPL)  The Lao Red Cross (LRC) celebrated its 70th anniversary with a walk for health and a photo exhibition held at Patuxay in Vientiane on January 4.

The event, commemorating the LRC's establishment on January 1, 1955, was attended by President Thongloun Sisoulith, who also serves as the organization’s honorable president, along with ministers, heads of equivalent organizations, the Vientiane Mayor, representatives of international organizations, and LRC staff.

Mr. Khamlavan Chanthalavan, President of the Lao Red Cross, highlighted the importance of the event in marking the organization's 70th anniversary while also aligning it with three significant milestones: the 70th anniversary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the 50th anniversary of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and the 105th birth anniversary of late President Kaysone Phomvihane.

In his remarks, Mr. Khamlavan provided an overview of the LRC’s history. Established on January 1, 1955, as the Lao Red Cross Council, the organization initially focused on humanitarian assistance in line with international conventions to which Laos is a signatory.

In 1975, the council was renamed the Lao Red Cross Council, expanding its scope to include international aid donations, health promotion, disease prevention, traditional medicine integration, and health training for communities affected by war. By 1999, it was rebranded as the Lao National Red Cross, adopting a framework guided by seven principles and nine core tasks. These include emergency relief, blood donation campaigns, health promotion, first aid, disaster response, fundraising, volunteer mobilization, family tracing, and fostering international cooperation.

The LRC operates through a structured system comprising the national organization, provincial branches, and district offices. To align with national development policies, the organization has adopted a 10-year strategic plan (2021–2030) centered on three goals: strengthening organizational sustainability, promoting public health for improved quality of life, and enhancing disaster preparedness and relief efforts, including blood donation campaigns.

Mr. Khamlavan noted that LRC's achievements have garnered national recognition, particularly in mobilizing and providing safe blood supplies for patients across the country. He praised these efforts as a hallmark of the organization’s commitment to humanitarian service.

The anniversary celebrations underscored LRC's pivotal role in fostering solidarity and improving the well-being of the Lao people over seven decades.

KPL