Born officially in 1947, the Philippine National Red Cross (Filipino: Krus na Pula ng Pilipinas, abbreviated as PNRC) is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, has roots going back to the revolutionary days.
The PNRC was established 60 years ago. In the past, the PNRC used to be involved only in the provision of blood and short-term palliatives as well as participation in disaster-related activities but they now focus on a wider array of humanitarian services.
At present, the PNRC provides six major services: National Blood Services, Disaster Management Services, Safety Services, Health Services, Welfare Services and Red Cross Youth. All of them embody the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. These values guide and inspire all Red Cross staff and volunteers, to whom being a Red Crosser is more than just a philosophy but a way of life.
Community Health and nursing service is carried out by the Red Cross in far-flung rural areas. Its efficacy lies on self-reliance and coordination with the Department of Health.
Well trained and highly motivated community-based volunteer health workers do preventive and curative jobs. They serve in their own barangays and neighboring towns. They teach nutrition, family planning, prevention, and control of communicable diseases, maternal and child health care, cleanliness and sanitation.
The PNRC enjoys strong linkage with many colleges of nursing, a big source of their volunteer manpower. It trains senior nursing students as volunteer home nursing instructors and fields them to rural areas where they teach people how to take care of the sick and injured, and mother and baby care, among others. Many of them help in the nationwide immunization and other health campaigns of the DOH.
Disaster nursing includes training of professional nurses and senior nursing students on disaster nursing which is now integrated in the nursing curriculum. Its basic courses for beginners and instructor's courses on First aid, Basic Life Support or Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, Advanced life support and Water safety are open to the general public.
Filipino nurses and The Philippine National Red Cross have long been tied with each other as partners in the service of those needing medical attention and care. Training and seminars are still ongoing up to this day and the years to come in hope that the nurses will be equipped with ample knowledge and skills to bring about quality service to their countrymen.
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