Activities
Brief Note on the Activities of Indian Red Cross Society, East Godavari District Branch, Kakinada.
Indian Red Cross Society was constituted under the Act of Parliament known as “INDIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY” Act XV of 1920. His Excellency the Governor of Andhra Pradesh is the President and the Honorable Chief Minister is the Vice-President of Indian Red Cross Society A. P. State Branch. At the District level, Collector & District Magistrate is the President of the Red Cross District Branch, Kakinada. Our Indian Red Cross Society District Branch, Kakinada started in the Year 1928.
Indian Red Cross Society is a Voluntary Organization serving for the poor and down trodden. The Society is not receiving any funds either from Central or State Government. The only source of Income to Red Cross District Branch Kakinada is by way of Membership Subscriptions and by raising donations from the public and Philanthropic Institutions.
CELEBRATING 95 YEARS OF GLORIOUS SERVICE AND MARCHING TOWARDS CENTENNIAL
The Red Cross Society was the brain child of an young Swiss Businessman Sir. Jean Henry Dunant who along with four Genevamen set up an International Committee in 1863 for relief to the wounded soldiers in war. As an International Service Organization, it is now devoted in taking care of people suffering not only from the fatal consequences of war but also of natural calamities like floods, famines and earth quakes. Its emblem is a Red Cross on white back ground: the inverse of Swiss Flag.
The Red Cross Society was established in India in 1920 and in Kakinada, of erstwhile E.G.District, Composite Madras State in 1928. It has proudly completed ’95’ years of its humanitarian services. Known for its maternity services since inception it was called “Deliveries Hospital” and later known as “Milk Hospital” as Red Cross used to distribute milk and Milk Powder for the poor and lower middle class people. The Red Cross Society, East Godavari is indebted to the priceless services to the maternity Hospital by eminent personalities like Dr. Chaco, Dr. Aluri Vijaya Lakshmi and Dr. Challa Subba Lakshmi in establishing the society as a service organization in words, deed and thought.
Red Cross Residential Boys High School for differently abled children at Pratap Nagar, Kakinada
The School which is exclusively meant for the differently abled poor children, the Deaf and Dumb was started at Pratap Nagar in 1993. It has been providing free boarding, lodging, supply of school text books, Uniforms and stationery for the boarders studying from 1st Class to 10th Class. The Students of this school have distinguished themselves in different walks of life. Former Loksabha Speaker Late G.M.C.Balayogi garu used his good offices to provide a two storey building for the boarders and the Red Cross Society gratefully acknowledges his humanitarian gesture. Now ’50’differently abled children are pursuing their educational courses here.
Blood Bank and Blood Components process Unit.
The Red Cross Blood Bank started in 2003 was inaugurated by the former Hon’ble Governor of A.P. Shri Surjit Singh Barnala. The Kakinada Sea Ports Ltd., donated a four bedded Mobile Blood Donor vehicle at a cost of Rs.35 Lakhs for conducting Blood Donation Camps in the rural areas. This is the first instance of a Red Cross Society proudly owning and making use of a mobile Blood Donation vehicle in the history of our A.P.State. The Red Cross Society had the privilege of starting Blood Components process unit in 2007 by the former Governor of A.P. Shri N.D.Tiwari so as to supply of safe and protected Blood, Plasma, PRBC and SDP. The Red Cross Blood Bank serves the Society by providing safe blood for all the needy people without shortage even in Covid Pandemic
Red Cross Yoga Centre, Kakinada
Former Governor of A.P. Shri N.D.Tiwari inaugurated a Red Cross Yoga Training Centre in 2007. Located in the serene ambience of Vivekananda Park, it is imparting yogic exercises and Asanas for the physical and mental well-being of the people. The Yoga Centre conducts classes in five shifts from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. regularly, under the supervision and guidence of well-qualified Yoga Instructors. Nearly 50 to 100 members are practicing Yoga on regular Basis. Training for 51 Women as Yoga Trainers was given in the Year 2020-21. We are Conducting “Health Talk” programs by Eminent Doctors for the benefit of General Public.
'VATSALYA'Red Cross Home for Senior Citizens
Foundation stone was laid for a ‘Home for Senior Citizens’ at Santosh Nagar of Kakinada by the former Governor of A.P., Shri N.D.Tiwari in 2008 was started in the year 2010. We have constructed another two floors in 2021-22 and was inaugurated by Hon’ble Governor of A.P. Sri Biswabhusan Harichandan on 8th May 2022. ONGC has provided Rs.50 lacs CSR Funds for the construction of the 1st Floor. Karuturi family of Kakinada now settled in USA has donated Rs.40 lacs for the construction of 2nd Floor and now the home can provide accomodation up to 75 Residents. The Home is now equipped with Modern facilities like spacious Dining Hall, Lift, Solar Power, RO Water, Beautiful Garden & Walking Track. Providing Medical assistance with Free Medicines to the Residents. Implementing a ‘Wellness Project’ that provides Physical, Recreational, Spiritual and Cultural well being of the Residents.
Establishment of Seva Centre for the victims of Thalassemia
The Red Cross Society has been rendering valuable services for the children affected by Thalassemia by free Transfusion of Blood on every Tuesday and Friday ever since a Thalassemia Service Centre was started in March 2017. So far, 150 children suffering from the disease of Thalassemia have registered themselves and been utilizing the services uninterrupted in Covid Pandemic also. The Govt. of A.P. has enrolled our centre under “AAROGYASRI” this year.
Red Cross Women Skill Development Centre
A Training Centre for imparting instruction in tailoring and embroiding was started to help women earn their livelihood in the year 2005. They are imparted instruction for six months by a qualified tailoring instructor for a nominal fee. Special courses are being provided for women in Beauty Care, Spoken English, Tailoring, Maggam Work, Yoga TOT, Spoken Hindi, Computer DTP / Photoshop, Car Driving, Basic First Aid Training. Foundation stone was laid by Sri S.Abdul Nazeer Hon’ble Governor and President IRCS. AP State Branch on 31 Jan 2024 for a new 3 floor building to accommodate our Red cross Child Care, Women Welfare & Skill Development Centre which is under construction
Lakamsani Vireen Manas Red Cross Eye Bank
31st January 2024 is another Golden
Letter Day in the History of our Red Cross Kakinada District Branch as Sri S. Abdul Nazeer Hon’ble Governor and President IRCS, AP State Branch has Inaugurated “LAKAMSANI VIREEN MANAS” Red Cross Eye Bank. The EYE Bank was established with the technical support of LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad to facilitate Cornea Donation and providing ocular Tissue for transplant, Research and Education. Sri Lakamsani Satyanarayana MD Sri Sairama Frozen Food has donated the entire expenditure of Rs.45 lakhs to Establish Eye Bank in the name of his son late Vireen Manas
Aatmabandhu / Ambulance Service
The Red Cross Society has been providing Aatmabandhu sevices for the tranportation of dead bodies from hospitals/residential quarters to the cremation grounds since 1996. Dead body Freezer Box service is also available for a nominal fees so as to keep the dead bodies till the arrival of their relatives. The Red Cross Ambulance service is already available to carry patients for a nominal fees from their residence to hospitals or vice versa. Our services continued uninterrupted in Covid Pandemic also. Reliance Industries has donated a New Ambulance for “Aathmabhandu Service” this year.
Disaster Management and First Aid Trainings
Ours is the First District Branch conducting highest number of Senior Professional/Basic First Aid Trainings for the last so many years. People aproached our Branch for Training from various Districts of Andhra Pradesh and most of the trainess were absorbed by the Government Health Services in the recent emergency recruitments.
AIDS Awareness Clinic (Counseling)
Since 1999, Sai Sudha Hospital under the guidance of Dr. Vadrevu Ravi has been conducting Aids Awareness clinic for counseling, free supply of Medicines and distributing nutrition food to HIV Patients every Friday unterrupted in Covid Pandemic also.
Red Cross Green Field Residential School for the visually impaired
The Management of Green Field Residential School for Blind Children which is located in Thimmapuram Village of Kakinada Rural Mandal was handed over to IRCS Branch on 19-12-2016. Now 36 visually impaired Boys and Girls are studying in this Residential School having its own 3 floor building.
Red Cross Health Care Center
The Red Cross Society Hospital, Gandhi Nagar has been rendering free medical services continously throughout the year even in Covid Pandemic. When all the Private Hospitals were closed due to Covid-19 pandemic our Red Cross Hospital has extended OP services to the Public continuously and providing medical services to 7500 patients approximately with Free Medicines in our District Branch in 2022-23. Pulse Polio drops were administrated unteruptedly in Covid Pandemic. We have been distributing the vitamin supplements to pregnant women with the support of M/s. Vitamin Angels since 2019.
Red Cross Janahitha Medicals
We have started Red Cross “Janahitha Medicals” a Generic Medicine retail outlet in the premises of Red Cross Bhavan on 8th May 2022 for General public to provide quality Medicines at lowest prices.
Junior / Youth Red Cross Acitivities
Junior Red Cross activities are implemented in High Schools while youth Red Cross Activities are implemented through the Junior, Degree, Engineering, Medical and Polytechnic Colleges. Our District Branch stands at the top of AP in JRC / YRC membership registration and its activities like plantation, cleanliness. Following the Advice of the president of AP State Branch respected Sri Biswa Bhushan Hari Chandan taken up the plantation program vigorously in 2019-20 and 2020-21 in the schools, colleges and in the avenues of the District with the support of District Education Department and Social Forestry Department.
Patient Services at Government General Hospital
In 2018-19 on the call given by the HE Governor of AP we have started rendering services for Government General Hospital patients every second Saturday of the month. Our volunteers are distributing fruits, breads, biscuits besides providing them required assistance throughout the year uninterrupted even in Covid Pandemic also.
Red Cross Republic Day Contingent
We have introduced Red Cross Contingent at the District level also in the Republic Day March past on 26th January since 2020 and getting prizes for the best performance by the District Collector.
Covid Relief Activities
East Godavari District Branch was the First District Branch of A.P. to start Covid19 awareness campaign on 20th March 2020 and the relief activities like Food distribution was started on 25th March. Taken up awareness campaign through huge attractive paintings at all important Road junctions of Kakinada about Hand washing, physical distancing and Stay at home. Distributed Dry Ration kits to the Sanitary workers, Migrant workers, Rickshaw pullers and Street dwellers sponsored by Reliance Foundation, Sri Ramakrishna Seva Samithi and other Philanthropists. Distributed Covid-Medical Kits and arranged oxygen Concentrators through our Oxygen Bank. Carried Dead Bodies of Covid/Non-Covid in those difficult times.
Awards Galore
The Red Cross Society, East Godavari is the recipient of many awards in recognition of its peerless services to the needy and the sick people. It annexed a large number of prizes. awards instituted for highest membership subscriptions and registration of Junior/Youth Red Cross wings. Above all, it has the proud distinction of bagging the 1st “Best District Award” for its all-round best performance in the state of AP for the years 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 consecutively. Our IRCS East Godavari Chairman Sri Y.D.Rama Rao was awarded with the highest President’s Gold Medal for the year 2018-19. Huge Infrastructure Development: On January 5th 2019 a three storied well equipped modem building, comprising Blood Bank, conference Hall for training of Filstaid & Disaster Management and an administrative block was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Vice President of India Sri M. Venkaiah Naidu garu. Our District Branch owns great infrastructure for our schools, Home for Senior Citizens, Yoga Centre, Hospital, Parking Complex and is planning to have one for “Child Care, Women Welfare and Skill Development Centre”. The Red Cross Society gratefully acknowledges the self-less services of such noble humanists of the town such as A. Vivekananda Murthy garu, B. Venkata Ramayya garu and Dr. Durga Raju garu. In short the Red Cross Society, East Godavari is indebted to the noble services of successive District Collectors, eminent donors, committed volunteers and the esteemed members of the IRCS NHQ & APSB of Red Cross Society for their prompt guidance and assistance in all aspects of the functioning of Red Cross Society in erstwhile East Godavari and presently Kakinada District Branch.