On July 10, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Zaruhi Batoyan met with Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan, President of the Armenian Red Cross Society and Anna Yeghiazaryan, Secretary General. The purpose of the meeting was to present ARCS social activities and programs, to discuss opportunities for further cooperation.
The Armenian Red Cross Society is ready to offer all its resources, abilities and experience to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs for more effective and rapid implementation of reforms in the field.Our company is of a humanitarian kind supporting Government, our priorities are very close to the strategy of your organization,” said Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan, President of the Armenian Red Cross Society. ARCS General Secretary Anna Yeghiazaryan presented the structure and activities of the Armenian Red Cross Society, the programs implemented in the field, pointing out that the organization localizes and applies the rich experience of the International Red Cross Movement in the country, and the involvement of volunteer potential enables presence in even the most remote communities. The Minister expressed his gratitude for the willingness and noted that he highly appreciates the work done by the company, especially in the field of home care and social-psychological services for the elderly. It is important for us not only to maintain our cooperation but also to expand it as we value the experience and knowledge of our partner organizations in their fields and believe that they can also serve as a good model for public administration. All of our programs are based on a rights-based approach, and the development of community services and the formation of an inclusive society are very important to us. The experience of NGOs in this context is very valuable,” said Minister Batoyan.
The Minister also informed that the development of community care services for the elderly is one of the priorities of the Ministry. Recently, the conceptual directions of deinstitutionalization of elderly care and development of alternative community services have been presented for public discussion.
