How old is the Red Cross movement?

By Pankajbala R Patel

MOST of us have some idea of what the Red Cross is all about. Help in distress! Perhaps in Goa most of us are unaware that there is a Red Cross Society office in capital city Panaji in Goa, located on 18 June Road (old premises opposite the Primary Health Centre offices). Not only does it conduct blood donation camps when required but it also conducts life-saving classes at schools, colleges and industrial houses which request for such classes – how to save life in emergencies and near death situations.
Most of us think Red Cross is for folk who help out in war-time situations, volunteers helping those fleeing war-torn countries, those in need of medical attention and temporary homes till war is over and there is peace. But one may also reach out to the Red Cross office staff for help in other kinds of distress. Like early this year when I was looking for one of those mobile beds called Foley’s bed which are so useful for patients who’re more or less bedridden.
I appealed to the genial chairperson of the Goa State Indian Red Cross Gaurish Dhond and without wasting any time and in a matter of two days he helped me get a Foley’s bed (which another patient no longer needed) for my patient to be comfy at home. It’s something I’m utterly grateful for because a Foley’s bed is expensive and one may not be able to buy it. Reportedly, the Red Cross donated over a 100 Foley’s beds to the Goa Medical College & Hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 which started taking a toll of many victims in Goa (the first case was confirmed in Goa on March 25 and second wave came in May 2021 with the subsequent lockdowns of fear and terror). A special ward for Covid patients opened up and at the GMC and this is Geriatrics Ward No.115 today, it’s one of the most spacious wards for patients and especially senior citizens in need of closer monitoring and all-round healthcare.

HOME CARE
ONCE a patient is out of danger and can be taken care of at home it helps if one can acquire such things as a Foley’s bed, a walker, 4-pronged walking stick and a plethora of various aids to help patients to recover sooner rather than later. Know something about the Red Cross. The Indian Red Cross Society was established in 1920 under the Indian Red Cross Society Act and incorporated under Parliament Act XV of 1920, last amended in 1992 and rules formed in 1994. Today, the Red Cross has something like 700 branches worldwide with its headquarters in Switzerland from where its founder, a Swiss man, Jean Henri Dunant, hailed from. He is today popularly remembered as the “Father of the Red Cross.”
The story goes that Dunant was so horrified by the scenes of death of soldiers and wounded soldiers in the Austro-Sardinian war of 1850 which he witnessed. The humanitarian Christian vowed to do something about it and talked to politicians of the day to be compassionate to those who died and got injured in wars they created! He founded the Red Cross movement in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland and the motto was “In war, charity” and “Through humanity to peace.” Today, the Red Cross movement (now also part of the Red Crescent movement) is so large and networked that it is recognized the world over for the emergency rescue missions and services in war zones, rendering help to troubled people…the simple red cross is recognized by everyone as the symbol of the Red Cross organization. Here is an organization of good Samaritans who remain neutral in all conflicts, angels of mercy and people you may trust to help you in all circumstances

Managing Committee of the Indian Red Cross Society, Goa….

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WHO are the members of the managing committee of the Indian Red Cross society in Goa? At a press conference was held at the Red Cross premises on Aug 5, 2024 media people were introduced to the newly elected Red cross panel or managing committee from 2024 to 2026. Honorary Chairperson Gaurish Dhond briefly recounted the various programs and kinds of work the Goa Red Cross is engaged in – from holding blood donation camps to training individuals and groups of young people in first aid and saving life in emergencies.
The Red Cross has grown to be a formidable power of influence in times of peace as also in emergencies; take the Covid 19 pandemic and lockdowns which took such a heavy toll of life across the world. In Goa the Red Cross reached out with whatever was needed from equipment to blood to oxygen cylinders and there were many philanthropists who contributed funds.
Some recent highlights include a gift of two fully-equipped cardiac ambulances from the National Board, both ambulances are working full time attached to the Asilio and Hospicio hospitals down south Goa. They are all honorary stalwarts here at the Red Cross, exclaimed Gaurish Dhond, he himself has been lending his voluntary services for the last 20 to 25 years. The others in the managing committee are also dedicated and familiar persons like Manguiriswh Pai Raikar (hon vice-chairperson), Mario Pinto De Santana (hon treasurer), Rajesh Salgaonker, Salim Israni, Dr Lenny da Costa and other members. The Red Cross Goa office has 1,300 members who are also considered as volunteers who help out whenever a program is organized.
Being busy professionals in their own lives, shared Gaurish Dhond, they may not be in the Red Cross office every day, but they do have a small dedicated staff working daily which is now headed by John Aguiar who takes care of day to day routine work. Their program director and public information officer of long-standing is Rio Couto.
The Red Cross is not an NGO but an elected statuary voluntary organization which connects with various NGOs and other social service organizations like the Rotary, Lions, Jaycees and other clubs whenever required to hold blood donation camps, the blood is routed to the GMC Blood Bank where there is a constant need for blood.

Apart from the usual programs sometimes they get emergency appeals to help someone out. For example, a communication from the Ukrainian embassy came in asking them if they could help a couple from Ukraine, the wife was eight months pregnant and she needed to get to a hospital urgently…it was quite a challenge to track down the couple out at Morjim beach but they managed to do it. The pregnant woman gave birth at the Hospicio hospital in Margao and all was well and the couple were full of gratitude to the Red Cross staff.
The Red Cross is also attached to five departments of the government, namely the departments of social welfare, education, fire and emergency services, Health Services and sports and youth affairs, there is give and take between them. The Red Cross has started a Medical Bank whereby they make available such utility value items as Foley’s beds, walkers, oxygen cylinders and other items required by patients on a loan basis.
Interestingly, Governor Sreedharan Pillai who is president of the Red Cross in Goa, had a function for TB patients (on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 72 birthday) and there was a call to provide nutrition support for 73 of the 1,500 TB patients who were critical – this entailed 73 tiffin box service of food to be distributed across Goa. It was quite a challenge to undertake but their Red Cross staff managed to do it in coordination with the Health Department, remembers Gaurish Dhond, “For 12 months we reached 73 food boxes to the TB patients’ home, a service which cost Rs60,000 each month, the governor took care of it…but it was a moment of pride for us when we were able to do it.”
Recently on July 24, 2024 they had a camp for those who needed their eyes to be checked, their ears, and also dental problems; doctors attached to the Red Cross volunteered their free services and patients got spectacles and appointments at the Dental Hospital. So don’t think the Red Cross is just for wartime services. You may call on them for any help you need and chances are you’ll get it!