In the year 2023-24, post the COVID pandemic, when humanity just started picking up pieces, the East Singhbhum Branch of the Indian Red Cross Society took up relief work on a massive scale, in spite of limited resources available at its disposal and also other constraints such as movement of its volunteers and relief material. It is indeed heartening to note that members and volunteers of the Red Cross Society enthusiastically tried to mitigate the suffering of humanity and reached succor to the needy on time.
Mega Eye Cure Camp 2024 & 40th Foundation Year of East Singhbhum Branch of Red Cross Society
For the East Singhbhum branch of Indian Red Cross Society, the year 2023-24 was an eventful year, much like previous years. However, it was also a very special year, as His Excellency, Sri C P Radhakrishnan, the Governor of Jharkhand-cum-President of Indian Red Cross Society attended the concluding day function of Mega Eye Cure Camp-2024 and the 40th Foundation Day of East Singhbhum branch of Indian Red Cross Society on 9th January 2024 and blesses us all. He has also requested the local administration to allot two acre land for a state-of-the-art Eye Hospital so that the patients who come from the marginalized sections of the society could be provided with widespread and a safe environment. HE the Governor also felicitated Eye Specialists and a few volunteers who extend selfless service to the Red Cross Society.
Blood Donation Campaign:
For the East Singhbhum branch of Indian Red Cross Society, it has been a priority area for making the requisite blood available to the needy on time and with this motive in mind, members and volunteers of this branch of Red Cross Society steadfastly and actively associated in organizing blood donation camps and also continued in conducting awareness campaigns on blood donation. In the year 2023-24, this branch of Red Cross Society has organized 71 blood donation camps in which blood donation awareness campaigns were also launched. It is heartening to note that many new and young blood donors were brought into the fold and they were motivated successfully to donate blood regularly. On the occasion of World Red Cross Day, on 8th May 2023, a mega blood donation camp was organized with the theme: “From the Heart” which saw a record number of units of blood was collected. It was a proud moment for all of us when Dr Nitin Madan Kulkarni, Principal Secretary to the Governor of Jharkhand – cum – Secretary General, Indian Red Cross Society, Jharkhand State Branch, and his wife, MrsSuman Gupta, ADG, Jharkhand Police, donated blood in this mega blood donation camp. In fact, it was somewhat a rewriting of history for us as Dr Kulkarni, the then Deputy Commissioner, East Singhbhum and MrsSuman Gupta, the then Commandant, JP-6 Battalion, Jamshedpur, have donated blood at the Mega Blood Donation Camp organized by us in the year 2004-05 Likewise, on 1st October 2023, a Voluntary Blood Donation Camp was again conducted by the Red Cross Society, East Singhbhum Branch. During the year, 6781 units of blood was collected which catered to the need of the patients. Once the Apheresis equipment has been installed in the Jamshedpur Blood Centre, SDP (Single Donor Platelet) donation has commenced and this Branch of Red Cross Society has opened a separate wing of active volunteers for SDP donation due to which Platelet donation has picked up momentum and 225 units of SDP was collection in the year.
To create and enhance awareness on blood donation, the Red Cross Society, East Singhbhum has requested to form a group of blood donors in each and every village of East Singhbhum, due to which at least two blood donation camps are organized in the villages.
Eye Cure Camps:
Red Cross Society, East Singhbhum, has always accorded priority to the need of marginalized sections of the society who even look for support for minor medical needs. This branch of Red Cross Society has taken up a much needed initiative of blindness eradication in the district of East Singhbhum by organizing weekly eye cure camps. As Cataract is an age-related ailment, every year eye patients get added to the list and owing to lack of adequate institutions serving the needy, there is a huge backlog of eye patients awaiting remedy. In this backdrop, the East Singhbhum branch of Indian Red Cross Society, in association with its allied organization, the Ram Manohar LohiaSewa Sansthan, has been organizing weekly eye cure camps. In the year 2023-24, 40 such eye cure camps have been conducted in which, as per the norms, 30 Cataract operations have taken place in each of the camps and 1160 patients were operated for Cataract and implanted lenses free of cost. Noted eye surgeon of the city, Dr B P Singh, accompanied by DrBharati Sharma, Head of the Department, Eye and Dr Poonam Singh, Sr Eye Surgeon, both from the Tata Main Hospital, DrVivekKedia and Malay Dwivedi, senior eye surgeons of the city, have extended selfless services by performing free operations.
PM TB Free India Campaign:
The East Singhbhum branch of Indian Red Cross Society has been nominated by H E the Governor of Jharkhand as the nodal agency for PM TB Free India Campaign which was launched by our Hon’ble Prime Minister. Under this much needed and laudable initiative and with the guidance of the Secretariat of HE the Governor of Jharkhand-cum-State Red Cross Society headquarters, this Branch of Red Cross Society has undertaken the task of reaching out much required free nutritional food packets and multi-vitamin tablets to the TB patients in the East Singhbhum district. Commenced on 15th August 2022 under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of East Singhbhum, the Red Cross Society has been providing free nutritional food packets and multi vitamin tablets to the needy patients every month and till March 2024, 20 months quota of food and vitamin tablets have been distributed, Patrons of Red Cross Society and renowned social activists of the city are supporting this programme in the form of “NischayMitra” , a term coined by the National Headquarters of Indian Red Cross Society, and the programme is ongoing.
Health Camps:
This year, our activities have started with a Health Camp organized in a rural area of the district, and till March 2024, 40 such Health Camps have been organized in which 4600 needy patients were treated for various ailments and requisite medicines were provided free of cost.
First Aid & Ambulance Service:
During the year 2023-24, the Red Cross Society, East Singhbhum Branch, has extended First Aid & Ambulance service on festivals, special events organized by the district administration, during the visit of VIPs, state and national programmes and sports events. Primarily this service was extended during Republic Day, Independence Day, Durga Puja, Ram Navami, Chhat, Van Mahotsav, RastriyaEktaDiwas, Muharram, Walkathon, Marathon etc by holding 20 camps.
Safety First Aid Disaster Management Training:
This East Singhbhum chapter of Indian Red Cross Society is conducting monthly training programme on Safety First Aid & Disaster Management in which many youth undertake the training and owing to this we have noticed improvement on road safety. During the year 2023-24, we have conducted 12 Safety First Aid & Disaster Training programmes and 6 Industrial First Aid & CPR (Artificial Respiration) training programmeswhich saw 370 participants undertaking the training.
National Merit Award:
In the financial year 2023-24, MrBijay Kumar Singh, Hony Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, East Singhbhum, has been honoured with National Merit Award which was presented during the National Red Cross Society award distribution ceremony at RashtrapatiBhawan, New Delhi. The award was given away by Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare-cum-Executive Chairman of Indian Red Cross Society, National Headquarters, in the presence of H E Sri C P Radhakrishnan, Governor of Jharkhand-cum-President, Indian Red Cross Society, Jharkhand State Branch and H E Sri RajendraVishwanathArlekar, Governor of Bihar-cum-President, Indian Red Cross Society, Bihar State Branch. Many State Branch Presidents of Indian Red Cross Society also graced the occasion. This merit award is presented to a very few important persons for the humanitarian service extended by them.
Flash Flood Relief Work:
In the year goneby, flash flood hits low lying areas of Jamshedpur and its peripheral areas which resulted in massive water logging in many areas thus causing hardships to the residents of the areas. The East Singhbhum Branch of Red Cross Society has once again undertaken a massive relief work in the affected localities by reaching essential commodities and also spraying bleaching to ward off water borne diseases. The efforts of Red Cross Society members and volunteers were acknowledged and appreciated by the affected populace.
National Festivals:
On the occasion of national festivals such as Republic Day and Independence day on 26th January 2024 and 15th August 2024 respectively, the Deputy Commissioner-cum-President of Indian Red Cross Society, East Singhbhum, hoisted and unfurled the National Flag at the district’s main event in which the Red Cross Society ambulance service was provided and also during rehearsals for the events.
“No To War” Campaign:
To bring awareness on the dangerous effects of war among the public, a campaign themed “Say No To War” was launched at an event organized by this Branch of Red Cross Society and those who attended the function were reminded of the consequences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and all of them taken a pledge to spread the message across.
Participation in National Headquarters Meeting:
During the year, MrBijay Kumar Singh, Hony Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, East Singhbhum, attended two meetings conducted by the National Headquarters of Indian Red Cross Society at New Delhi which is indeed a pride moment for this branch of Red Cross Society. Mr Singh also put forth many suggestions and made aware the current scenario of all district branches of the Red Cross Society in Jharkhand. Members who were present in these meetings discussed on the points suggested by MrBijay Kumar Singh.
All the planned activities for the year 2024-25 have commenced and the East Singhbhum branch of Red Cross Society has started work in the area of inducting more and more members in its fold so that its humanitarian efforts could be undertaken more vigorously in its area of operation. Moreover, bearing in mind the impending general elections, all the members have been briefed to reach out to all across with a message of importance of voting. Also, we will commence all event with this message of “Vote for strong Democracy”
