PakMed Info Forum

History and Introduction of Pakistan Red Crescent Society: Pakistan Red Crescent Society Medical and Dental College Lahore Punjab Pakistan

INTRODUCTION

Pakistan Red Crescent Society was founded on December 20th, 1947 by an order called ‘The Pakistan Red Cross Order’ that was issued by Quaid-e- Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Governor General of Pakistan and Founder President of the Society. The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) formally recognized it on July 21st 1948. Later it was admitted as a member of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Now called International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies-IFRC) on August 18th, 1948. Pakistan Red Cross Society was renamed as Pakistan Red Crescent Society in 1973.

HISTORY – PAKISTAN RED CRESENT SOCIETY

Dedicated to the cause and wedded to its ideals, the Society has rendered innumerable services to the people of Pakistan — both during the wars as well as in the peacetime. The spirit to serve has been amply displayed time and again during all the national hours of crisis — be it wars or natural catastrophes by the way of providing the wounded with the required first aid, carrying out zealous blood collection campaigns and arranging food and shelter for the displaced dwellers of the war-ravaged areas.

With the invasion of Afghanistan by the former Soviet Union and the subsequent civil war, Pakistan faced the burden of more than 3 million Afghan refugees, who entered Pakistan through its 2500 kms common border with Afghanistan for seeking refuge. In this state of emergency, PRCS played a commendable role in helping the Pakistan government to organise proper refugee camps with adequate facilities of food, safe drinking water, housing, medicine and means of livelihood for the incoming refugees.

Quick and comprehensive rescue plans during all sorts of natural catastrophes are also a distinct hallmark of PRCS. It’s relief activities during floods, fires, drought, earthquakes and other natural calamities have earned the Society not only respect but accolades as well from the masses.

In the health sector the PRCS has left an undeletable mark. From the days of its vigorous campaigns against tuberculosis that motivated the youth and the children to buy PRCS charity stamps to its evergreen blood donation drives, PRCS is seen as an effective player in the community health sector of Pakistan. An innovator and a leader in transfusion medicine and research, the PRCS has provided generations of Pakistanis with blood products that are safe and reliable.

Similarly, its partnership with leading national and international bodies like the UNICEF during the Polio Eradication campaigns, the HIV/AIDS Education Drives and the tireless efforts for the prevention of Hepatitis B by ensuring the guaranteed dispensation of the required vaccine through its Social Action Programme Initiative (SAPI) are to name just a few from the long list of its services to the Pakistani nation. Today, with its over 161 health facilities throughout the country, out of which 61 are specifically dedicated to Mother and Child health care, PRCS is providing valuable programme of population welfare and ensuring a considerable decrease in the otherwise abnormal maternal and child mortality rates in Pakistan.

At the heart of PRCS, however, is its success of infusing the spirit of service among the people without the discretion of class, colour and creed — the volunteers of PRCS. Today, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society is proud to have more than 50,000 volunteers attached to its programmes in various forms. No government, no matter how resourceful, can deal with all the emerging social problems on its own without the active support and meaningful participation of the community and PRCS has complete faith in this notion. Volunteers’ motivation and training, thus, remains one of prime targets of the Society. While people, in general, are encouraged to participate in its activities, the Society lays special emphasis on the youth and the student community by organising various events and training courses for them.

With the passage of time, the PRCS has witnessed new challenges to cope with. In fact, it has to respond to a sharp rise in yet another phenomenon– the man induced disasters. Far more deadly and lethal, this brutal form rocked humanity as the Twin Towers crumbled down on September 11, 2001. Since then, the world has never been as safe a place as it ever was. This threat from ‘within’ has forced governments, organisations and individuals to redraft their strategies and redirect their energies to curb the menace on all fronts – from creating tight security checks and barriers to training their respective people to fight the threat out.

Pakistan, with its 2500 km long border with Afghanistan and being at the cross roads of important geo-strategic routes, is today the frontline state against international terrorism. On one hand are its own people, who remain under constant threat of sudden bomb blasts at busy and important locations, killing many and on the other is its reputation as a modern, progressive and enlightened society as more and more fanatic elements fill-in its social fabric. The need of the hour, thus, remains to purge society of this constant impeding danger and hence, no wonder, has become the prime area of action for the Pakistan Red Crescent Society.

Thanks to its new management, the Society under the leadership of its Chairman, Saeed Ahmad Qureshi, is vigorously pursuing a well chalked-out strategy that addresses the problem on all accounts. Its Disaster Management programmes are more focused towards the man-induced disasters by way of launching Emergency Ambulance Service in all the major cities of the country backed up by First-Aid and Blood services.Its health focus is on creating Basic Health facilities in conflict and underserved areas.

The most important, however, remains PRCS’s endeavour to strengthen the humanitarian and social values by promoting the ideals of tolerance, non-violence, sympathy, love and respect for others in the society. Ranging from inter-personal contacts to organising seminars, public gatherings, declamation contests and various sporting events like promotional walks and galas, PRCS is ceaselessly trying to make Pakistan a better place to live.