The project, dubbed “RC SMS Text campaign,” aims at giving information on health, disaster management, first aid and principles and values of the society to the public at a subsidised fee.

The public could subscribe by texting “RC” to the short code “3701” on MTN and Vodafone networks.

Upon voluntary subscription, beneficiaries would receive information twice a week at a cost of 0.17 pesewas.

The GRCS

Launching the project at the society’s headquarters in Accra yesterday, the President of the GRCS, Dr Michael Agyekum Addo, said the movement, since its inception, had provided humanitarian service to alleviate human suffering.

He said the society had come to its wit’s end as support from its donors, such as the British Red Cross Society (BRCS) and the American Red Cross (ARC), were drying up, hence the need to diversify its sources of funding to ensure sustainable services.

 “We have core activities that we engage in but as at now, the society lacks funding to sustain its operations as some sponsors are no longer attending to our needs. This really makes it difficult for the society to engage in voluntary services”, Dr Addo added.

The West African Head of Country Cluster of GRCS, Mr Momodou Fye, commended the country’s branch for their strategic means of raising funds and urged the society to share the application with the other countries.

Health emergencies

The Secretary General of the society, Mr Samuel Kofi Addo, said the project was necessary because of health emergencies such as cholera and malaria, noting that the role of the GRCS during emergency was critical and went a long way to save lives.

He, therefore, urged the public to subscribe to the application to enhance the operations of the society.