Source: Philanthropy Times
From April 20 to 21, Chen Zhu, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the Red Cross Society of China, went to the Medical Department of Soochow University and the International College of the Red Cross to investigate the current situation and challenges faced by the development of geriatrics education and elderly care in China, and to discuss how the Red Cross organization can better perform the duties of government humanitarian assistants in the field of geriatric medicine and elderly care services.
On the afternoon of the 20th, Chen Zhu visited the Tang Zhongying Medical Research Institute, the Translational Medicine Research Institute and the Neuroscience Research Institute of Soochow University, and held discussions with the relevant responsible persons and experts and professors of the Medical Department of Soochow University.
On the morning of the 21st, Chen Zhu held a symposium at the International College of the Red Cross. At the meeting, Hu Weiguo, vice president of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Zhang Yu, director of the Department of Geriatrics of Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Yang Huilin, director of the Department of Orthopedics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, and Li Huiling, dean of the School of Nursing of soochow University School of Medicine, respectively introduced the development status of geriatric medicine, geriatric nursing, discipline development and pension service. Cao Huaijie, director of the Relief and Rescue Department of the Red Cross Society of China, and Pei Xiaochao, vice chairman and secretary general of the Red Cross Foundation of China, respectively reported on the participation of the Red Cross Society of China in the elderly care service and the Humanitarian Assistance Work of the Key Groups of the China Red Cross Foundation.
Chen Zhu pointed out that the deepening degree of aging in China has brought great challenges and demands to the cause of elderly medical care, nursing and public health. The Participation of the Red Cross Society of China in the work of elderly care services and the provision of humanitarian assistance and humanistic care for vulnerable groups such as the elderly with disability and dementia and the empty nest elderly is an important practice of the structural reform of the supply side of humanitarian services, which can inject new impetus into the country's response to the aging problem. Based on the new development stage, the Red Cross Society of China should continue to actively participate in the work of old-age services, boost the development of geriatric medicine and elderly nursing, help talent training, mobilize relevant social forces to participate in the cause of old-age services, jointly promote the construction of national public health facilities and social security policies in the field of old-age services, and promote the formation of an aging response plan with Chinese characteristics and a system of old-age service security systems, policy systems and governance systems.
Wang Rupeng, dean of the International College of the Red Cross, reported on the construction and development of the college since its establishment more than a year ago. With the care and promotion of President Chen Zhu and the leadership and support of the Party Group of the Federation and the Party Committee of the University of Suzhou, the governance structure, operation regulation, teaching and research and management team of the Red Cross International College have basically taken shape, the education and training and theoretical research work have been steadily carried out, the preparation of teaching materials has made initial progress, and the brand and influence of the College have gradually improved, especially to overcome the adverse effects of the epidemic and achieve a good start in the construction of the College. Chen Zhu expressed his affirmation and satisfaction in this regard, thanked Soochow University for its care and support for the Red Cross International College, and put forward hopes and suggestions for the future development of the College.
The "International Humanitarian Work Practice" micro-major for undergraduate students is an innovative measure to cultivate talents for humanitarian undertakings, and it is necessary to adhere to the operation and open other micro-majors related to Red Cross work in a timely manner. It is necessary to actively promote the construction of interdisciplinary disciplines in the Red Cross, introduce high-level talents and teachers, strengthen talent training in emergency management, disaster medicine, geriatrics and other disciplines closely related to Red Cross emergency rescue and humanitarian rescue, explore new paths for discipline integration, and strive to become a new growth point for Soochow University in disciplinary integration and innovation, so as to deliver fresh blood to the Cause of the Red Cross with Chinese Characteristics and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Chen Zhu hopes that the International Academy of the Red Cross will be inclusive, actively expand partners at home and abroad, strengthen cooperation and exchanges with domestic and international high-level humanitarian education and research institutions, and let the ideas and concepts of Chinese and foreign countries collide in the college to spark ideas in the new era. The Red Cross Society of China, the Red Cross Foundation of China, the Red Cross Society of Jiangsu Province, the Red Cross Society of Suzhou and Soochow University should continue to increase their support for the College, explore and deepen the cooperation between the College and the Provincial and Municipal Red Cross Societies of the Yangtze River Delta such as Shanghai, Zhejiang and Anhui, and jointly promote the development of humanitarian education.
When visiting the exhibition hall on the first floor of the Red Cross International College, Chen Zhu awarded the honorary certificate of "Joint Sponsor of the Red Cross International College" to the Shanghai Dafeng Public Welfare Foundation and the Suzhou Hehe Cultural Foundation, and expressed his gratitude and respect for the donations of the two foundations to support the construction of the College.
Sun Shuopeng, vice president of the Red Cross Society of China, participated in the survey, accompanied by Jiang Yong, secretary of the Party Committee of Soochow University, Wang Rupeng, dean of the International College of the Red Cross, Qi Dunpin, executive vice president of the Red Cross Society of Jiangsu Province, Shen Mingrong, vice president of Soochow University, Yan Xiaofeng, executive vice president of the Suzhou Red Cross Society, and Zheng Geng, executive vice president of the Red Cross International College.