Today the world and the nation along with it celebrates World Red Cross Day 2021. The day is observed on the death anniversary of Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross committee. On this day, let’s celebrate 5 heartwarming success stories from the Indian chapter of Red Cross & understand the history of World Red Cross Day.
World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2021: History
Henry Dunant
The existence of the Red Cross came into being after a man called Henry Dunant initiated a proactive measure of lobbying politicians in US to aid victims of war. Dunant’s primary idea was to create a treaty which would make armies of countries aid their wounded soldiers. Further is another idea was to create national societies that would aid military and those closely associated with militaries with medical services.
In October 1863, and international conference was observed which formally had countries accepting the concept that Dunant was pushing. One of the other major decisions taken in the conference was the agreement of a standard icon that would identify health workers on battlefield: a red cross over the white background. This icon is now identified by almost anyone not living under the rock as the red cross emblem.
The fruits of Dunant’s labour didn’t go to waste as he became the first Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1901.
5 Heartwarming Success Stories from the Indian chapter of Red Cross
1) ‘SERV Sankalp’ Program by the Indian Red Cross Society
The ‘SERV Sankalp’ program by the Indian Red Cross Society’s Himachal Pradesh wing has helped the most marginalized sect of the Indian society: the elderly and the disabled.
During the COVID-19 induced lockdown, the IRCS volunteers went door-to-door in their respective regions to provide support to the disabled and the elderly. These volunteers provided medicines, food packets and other essentials.
The SERV team recently jumped into action when they found that a 98-year-old woman from Dumat Behli needed medicines but couldn’t get any. The volunteers arranged the medicines and traveled a distance of 24 kms to provide them to the woman’s door step.
2) The Heartwarming Story of Damodari Devi
Damodari is a 39-year-old resident of Himachal Pradesh. She has severe mental disorders since childhood and also struggles with disability. In the lockdown period, her health took for a worse turn as she couldn’t get the medicines that upheld her health.
Fortunately, word reached to Red Cross and the members of the society rushed to help her. These workers walked a distance of 10 kms to locate Damodari. They took the stock of situation and purchased medicines that Damodari required.
The workers walked 20 kms on foot to provide Devi’s medicines to her doorstep and reaffirmed all of our faith in the goodness of humanity.
Also Read: World Health Day 2021- Building a fairer & healthier world
3) HIV Patient stranded in different city, Red Cross saves the day
An HIV patient from Madhya Pradesh (name not disclosed), was visiting Pune to visit her relatives. But all hell broke loose when the govt announced the immediate lockdown. Due to that the patient was left stranded in Pune with her medical supplies diminishing.
Fortunately, the word reached to the Pune arm of the IRCS. The doctor in the team then called the Jabalpur govt hospital which had all the medical records of the HIV patient and on the telephone, the doctor requested the hospital to send over all the prescriptions and medical files of the patient.
The Red Cross team then procured all the medications and assisted the patient with the timely help.
4) Rushing to help a 12-year-old cancer patient
12-year-old Darshini suffers from cancer and her routine also consists of taking chemotherapy regularly. But due to all transportation services being shut during lockdown, Darshini’s parents were not able to take her to her hospital in Tamil Nadu.
The Red Cross volunteers became the Godsent for Darshini as they provided travel assistance to Darshini and her parents free of cost.
Thankfully Darshini was able to continue her chemo sessions and IRCC were lauded by Darshini’s parents for its humanitarian work.
5) Helping an 8-year-old thalassemic
Rana Ghosh is an 8-year-old child and is a Thalassemic (a blood disorder that causes body to have less hemoglobin than normal). Ghosh is a resident in a remote area in West Bengal. During the COVID-19 induced lockdown, Rana’s hemoglobin level dropped way below 4.
To add more, Rana was thrown in a situation where blood donors were not easily available. When Red Cross was approached, the team quickly connected with all the voluntary blood donors.
2 blood donors were quickly identified who readily donated blood to Rana and helped Rana get the blood transfusion done.
