The Rosarito Red Cross will strengthen its services and expand its community presence under new board president Octavio Méndez Stoever, who praised the dedication of local paramedics.

“Even though the Red Cross covers 100 percent of ambulance services in Rosarito, we need to be more visible through other programs, not just emergency response,” Méndez said, noting upcoming outreach efforts such as health fairs and community work led by the organization’s volunteer corps.

The Red Cross also plans to collaborate with the municipal government and the local education system to promote prevention and health awareness. In the coastal community of Primo Tapia, the 24-hour ambulance base may soon expand to include medical services, while efforts are also underway to hire doctors for night shifts in Rosarito’s main station, which has lacked overnight medical coverage for years.

Méndez, who has volunteered with the Red Cross for 40 years, said he understands that both institutional and community needs are constantly evolving.