Eighth celebrating ceremony of the volunteers and the benevolent was organised by Red Crescent Volunteers Organisation in Andisheh Art Hall in Tehran in the presence of Dr. Seyed Amir Mohsen Ziaee, President of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Dr. Seyed Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, the Iranian Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, and a number of senior managers of Iranian Red Crescent, volunteer members, donors, artists and athletes. During this ceremony, 700 volunteers, the benevolent and donors were appreciated for their voluntary services and their donations and endowments.

In his speech, Dr. Ziaee, the IRCS President pointed out that the voluntary services are in the heart of the Iranian Red Crescent. "The voluntary services are effective in creating social capitals and will lead to the reduction of social harms in communities", he added. The IRCS President expressed that the provision of the services without any expectations would enhance people solidarity in community and the promotion of the voluntary culture would be effective in improving public health.

In addition, a MoU was signed between the Iranian Red Crescent Society and Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education for the implementation of the pilot plan of "Salamat Yaran" with the purpose of providing psychological support services to the alone patients by the IRCS volunteer members in 10 state hospitals throughout the country from the next month.

"For the implementation of this plan, Red Crescent volunteers will pass the related specialised courses and the voluntary services will be rendered by the trained volunteers to the alone patients who are hospitalised in the medical centres," Dr. Ziaee also explained. This MoU will be the successful model of rendering the humanitarian services to the patients through strengthening the sense of social accountability.

Following the ceremony, Ms. Farahnaz Rafe, Head of the IRCS Volunteers Organisation informed about the plan of "Baran Mehrbani" which is named as the plan on food safety provision for pregnant women. "500 pregnant women have been recognised by the IRCS that their costs of food security will be covered through the IRCS volunteers and the benevolent." She added. Ms. Rafe expressed about the activities of Volunteers Clubs of the Iranian Red Crescent and told that the persons who are the members of these clubs can get benefit from the special discounts and advantages.

"Health caravans and the erection of health tents for rendering health and treatment services in community such as blood glucose test, blood pressure test and treatment for needy patients and the implementation of hope and healthy travel plan with the purpose of encouraging people to self-care, the promotion of endowment culture and recruitment of volunteer physicians are among various voluntary plans of the IRCS Volunteers Organisation", Mrs. Rafe also mentioned.

At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Seyed Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education of the Islamic Republic of Iran became the volunteer of the Iranian Red Crescent Society in this ceremony.