Women of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

Among the delegates:

• Miss N. Minogue, Deputy Secretary General (Australia)
• Miss M. Waddell, Honorary Director of Branches, New South Wales Division (Australia)
• Miss D. Wichmar, Administrative Assistant, Junior Red Cross (Canada)
• Mrs. Senedu Gabru, Member of the Board of Directors (Ethiopia)
• Miss J. Martin, Director, Nursing Service and Social Workers (France)
• Mrs. J. Awoonor-Williams, National Organizing Secretary (Ghana)
• The Countess of Limerick, Vice-Chairman of the Council (Great Britain)
• Dame Anne Bryans, Senior Vice-Chairman, Executive Committee (Great Britain)
• Miss E. Bark, Director, International Affairs Department (Great Britain)
• Miss C. J. Whittington, Director, Overseas Development Department (Great Britain)
• Miss M. E. Jones, Director, Junior Red Cross (Great Britain)
• Mrs. D. H. Sison, Member, Board of Governors (Philippines)
• Dr. I. Domanska, President (Poland)
• Miss D. Zys, Head of International Relations (Poland)
• Miss H. Vischer, Vice-President (Switzerland)
• Mrs. John W. Sheppard, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors (USA)
• Miss Margaret Hickey, Deputy to the Chairman (USA)
• Mrs. L. Tcherkasskaya, Chief, International Relations Section (USSR)
• Mrs. Z. Patkevich, Chief, Information Bureau (USSR)

“8. Report of the Nursinq Advisory Committee

The Secretary General reminded participants that this Committee had met in ordinary session in June and had entrusted its new Chairman, Miss Martin of the French Red Cross, to present its report. However, as in the case of the relief report, it was suggested that in view of its general interest, the report of the Nursing Advisory Committee also be submitted to the Board of Governors.

The Chairman asked the Executive Committee whether it approved the suggestion.

The suggestion was unanimously approved”.

“RESOLUTION NO.2

Election of two Vice-Chairmen of the Leaque

The Executive Committee,

Noting with deep regret the death of Vice-Chairman Rajkumari AMRIT KAUR and the resignation of Vice-Chairman Alfred M. GRUENTHER,

Elects, to fill their unexpired terms of office for the period to the XXVIII^th Session of the Board of Governors (Vienna, September, 1965), Dr. Sushila NAYAR, Chairman of the Central Managing Body of the Indian Red Cross, and Mr. E. Roland HARRIMAN, Chairman of the American Red Cross”.

“RESOLUTION NO. 10

Siqnatory authorities for Bankinq Documents

The Executive Committee,

Decides that as of October 1, 1964,

Mr. Charles-Andre Schussele, Director, Junior Red Cross Bureau, and

Mr. William Cassis, Director, Administration and Personnel Bureau

shall be authorized to sign banking documents of the League either jointly or with one of the League officers already empowered to do so; viz:

Mr. Henrik Beer, Secretary General

Baron van Zeeland, Treasurer General

Mr. Nedim Abut, Under Secretary General 

Miss Yvonne Hentsch, Director, Nursing Bureau

Mr. Paul Tischhauser, Director, Office of the Treasurer General”.

“RESOLUTION NO 23

Signature of Banking Documents

The Executive Committee

– decides that as of October 1st, 1962

Mr. Nedim ABUT, Under Secretary General

Nr. Nicolai TCHIKALENKO, Under Secretary General

shall be authorized to sign banking documents of the League jointly with one of the persons already empowered to do so, i.e.

Mr. Henrik Beer, Secretary General

Baron Marcel van Zeeland, Treasurer General

Miss Yvonne Hentsch, Director, Nursing Bureau

Mr. Shanker Nigam, Director, International Relations Bureau Mr. Paul Tischhauser, Director, Office of Treasurer General”

“DECISIONS

Taken by the Executive Committee of the League of Red Cross Societies

at its 81^st Session, Prague, September 30, 1961”

“1. Adoption of the Report of the Nursing Advisory Committee at its XV^th Session”.

“2. Election, on recommendation of the Nursing Advisory Committee, of the National Red Cross (Red Crescent, Red Lion and Sun) Societies of the following countries to membership on the Committee for the period 1961-1965 Canada, Denmark, France, Germany (Fed. Rep.), Great Britain, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Norway, Poland; Rumania, Turkey, United States of America, and Venezuela, with one additional place still to be filled”.

“3. Confirmation of the appointments made by the Nursing Advisory Committee of Miss Helen McArthur, Canadian Red Cross Society, and Mlle Jane Martin, French Red Cross, respectively as Chairman and Vice- Chairman of the Nursing Advisory Committee for the period 1961-1965”.

“RESOLUTIONS

Voted_by the 81^st Session of the Executive Committee

of the League of Red Cross Societies,

Prague, 30^th September 1961”

“Resolution N° 1

Relationship with the International Council of Nurses

The Executive Committee,

noting that no action was taken at the last meeting of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Grand Council in. April 1961, in relation to League of Red Cross Societies representation on the Education Committee of the ICN,

reaffirming its belief in the value of maintaining close relationship with the ICN

recommends that provision be made for a planned programme of visits to exchange information between the ICN Headquarters and the League Nursing Bureau”.

“Resolution N^o 2

Scholarships, Fellowships and Study Visits.

The Executive committee,

recommends to National Societies, within the established League International Study Visit Scheme, that they provide for an adequate number of professional nurses’ scholarships either through bursaries or through offering maintenance costs for short periods of study, or by ex- changing Visits,

that National Societies utilize all resources for professional scholarships, and study visits, such as the World Health Organization, “Exchange of Privileges for Nurses” of the rem, and others,

that National Societies, moreover, when they know their nurses receive such scholarships advise the League Secretariat and the National Society of the country where the students are going,

that National Societies use their influence to encourage governments to increase the number of fellowships granted to nurses from resources at their disposal, such as the World Health Organization and others”.

“Resolution No 3

Auxiliary Nursing Personnel

The Executive Committee

approves the position taken by the Nursing Advisory Committee concerning the training and employment of volunteer nursing auxiliaries and that “the principle of voluntary (unpaid) services within the Red Cross be safeguarded,

recognizing the need in many countries today for the training of paid auxiliary nursing personnel,

recommends to National Societies that they offer their resources to assist in the training of such paid auxiliary nursing personnel, where such assistance is indicated for the improvement of health and mitigation of suffering of the people of their country”.

Resolution No 4

Junior Red Cross

The Executive Committee,

recognizing the real contribution that members of the Junior Red Cross can make in health programmes,

recognizing that this service affords an opportunity for them to learn the value of Red Cross service, and gives them knowledge of careers in the health field,

recommends that the Nursing Services of National Societies help the Junior Red Cross by determining the duties to be performed by their members in the field of nursing, providing the necessary training and arranging for professional supervision”.

“Resolution No 5

International Glossary of Nursing Terms

The Executive Committee,

recognizing the need for a mutual understanding of technical nursing terms to benefit National Societies namely at international meetings, in the translation of material, and in the training of nurses assigned to international disaster relief operations,

charges the Secretary General of the League to study, in co-operation with the World Health Organization, the International Council of Nurses, and other interested agencies, the practicability of establishing such a glossary”.

“3

The Executive Committee,

Noting the great need which exists today in numerous countries of the world for medical, nursing and related personnel;

Recognizing the opportunity afforded by the Centenary of the Red Cross to inspire and promote Red Cross action in this field;

Affirming the necessity for the revitalisation and extension of Resolution No 45 of the 19th Session of the Board of Governors (Oxford1l946) concerning fellowships for medical officers;

Recommends that the Secretariat of the League in consultation with the Chairman of the Health Advisory and Nursing Advisory Committees, be requested to examine and evaluate existing facilities for the post- graduate training of medical and nursing personnel and related professions;

Recommends that following such study and examination, it take — steps to establish a plan to e no our age National Societies to obtain and/or grant bursaries, fellowships and scholarships to be designated “The Centenary Plan”, the objective of the Plan being to provide assistance for countries where the medical and sanitary conditions are inadequate for the needs of the people”.

“5

The Executive Committee,

Considering the difficulties which arose during the operation on behalf of Hungarian Refugees regarding signatures on cheques and documents,

Resolves that all documents debiting an account of the League shall bear – two signatures, either that of the Secretary General and a substitute, or those of two substitutes. The substitutes shall be Baron van Zeeland, Treasurer General, Mr. Albert C. Nussbaumer, Assistant Treasurer General, Mr. W. J. Phillips, M.B.E., Under Secretary General and Miss Yvonne Hentsch, Director of the Nursing Bureau.

In case of the establishment of a service, bureau or agency outside of the League Headquarters, the Secretary General may delegate to certain officials of such service, bureau or agency the right to sign cheques and banking documents, providing every document debiting an account of the League bears two signatures”.

“6

The Executive Committee approved the Report on the XII^th session of the Nursing Advisory Committee, held in Geneva, from 18 to 21 October 1955, and adopted its Recommendations (see under Resolutions)”.

“7

The Executive Committee instructed the Secretariat to study and establish draft Regulations for the Nursing Advisory Committee”.

II Resolutions

“5

The Executive Committee

Considering that the Red Cross is becoming an increasingly important factor in national health programmes,

Draws attention to the advantage of establishing a Nursing Department in every national Red Cross Society, to carry out the nursing programme of the Society and to provide professional advice on all matters  pertaining to nursing , such a Department operating on the national, regional and local levels,

Recommends that the Director of the Nursing Department be a professional nurse with special qualifications and training to direct the nursing programme of the Society

Recommends that this Department be placed on the same administrative level as the other technical Departments of the Society”.

“6

The Executive Committee,

Recommends that each National Red Cross Society have a Nursing Advisory Board to advise on all aspects of nursing”.

“7

The Executive Committee,

Recommends that, wherever the Red Cross is responsible for the basic education of professional nurses, such education conform to the standards laid down from time to time by the International Council of Nurses,

Recognising the value of post-basic courses for nurses,

Recommends that the Red Cross facilitate the establishment of such post-basic courses as may be appropriate in the country concerned”.

“8

Nurses’ Aids

The Excecutive Committee

Recommends that wherever the Red Cross assumes responsibility for the training of Red Cross Nurses’  Aids, training, assignment, and supervision of the duties of such personnel staff be the responsibility of professional nurses”.

“9

Home Nursing

The Executive Committee,

Recognising the valuable contribution made to public health by the teaching of Home Nursing by qualified instructors,

Recommends that the National Red Cross Societies continue to extend Home Nursing courses and that ways be constantly sought to improve the teaching programme through the sharing of mutual experience and through refresher courses for instructors on a national and international level”.

“10

The Executive Committee,

Considering the increasing part played by the Red Cross in relief to victims of disasters,

Recommends that the National Red Cross Societies endeavour to increase the number of their qualified members of all categories of nursing personnel,

Recommends in particular that the National Societies place documentation and publicity material on the national and international Red Cross at the disposal of all nursing schools in order to attract the largest possible number of nurses to the Red Cross,

Recommends, furthermore, that Red Cross nurses participate actively in publicizing widely the Red Cross principles and ideals”.

“11

Rights and Obligations of Red Cross Nursing Personnel Staff

The Executive Committee,

Recommends that the National Red Cross Societies make every effort to see that their nursing staff be informed of its rights and obligations under the Geneva Conventions”.

“12

The Executive Committee,

Recommends that, at international Red Cross meetings, each National Red Cross Society include a nurse in its delegation, especially whenever nursing or medico-social subjects are being discussed,

Recommends further that Red Cross nurses participate in the activities of the international nursing organisations and of other international organisations interested in nursing, in order to share in international developments in nursing and to help raise the standards of nursing within their own countries”.

“13

Information Service

Recommends that the National Red Cross Societies keep the Nursing Bureau of the Secretariat of the League regularly informed of their nursing activities”.

“14

Nursing Advisory Committee of the League

The Executive Committee, Expresses the wish that the Chairman of each session of the Committee should remain in office until the beginning of the following session, thus remaining available for consultation to the Nursing Bureau of the League Secretariat in the intervening periods between the sessions of the Committee”.