Women of the Red Cross and Red Crescent30-odd years with the Movement - National Society, International Federation and Standing Commission, for some reason never ICRC.
Presently a free spirit and attached to Sandefjord Red Cross
Present: Mlle le Dr. A. MASARYKOVA, among 10 gentlemen from the Committee, the Finance Committee and the Secretariat.
Otherwise, the documents relating to this meeting do not contain information that throws light on the role of women within the League or the Movement.
“XXVI
Hygiene in the Schools.
While the function of the Junior Red Cross in the health field is primarily to interest children in the care of their own health and that of others, it is desirable that Red Cross Societies should, in connexion with their Junior activities, encourage the adoption, where necessary, of medical inspection of schools and the provision of school nurses and collaborate with them in the introduction of standard methods of weighing and measuring children”.
“XXX
Tuberculosis.
The General Council recommends that National Societies take part in the campaign against tuberculosis:
1. By the training of nurses and especially of public health nurses.
2. By co-operation, in cases where the Red Cross undertakes such practical work, in the establishment in each district of dispensaries, paying special attention to the protection of children and, as regards infants, taking part in the organization of babies’ centres.
The General Council expresses the wish that each National Society shall establish within its organization a technical medical bureau whose function it shall be to co-ordinate and direct the various medical and public health activities of the Red Cross.
The General Council particularly calls the attention of National Societies to the fact that it is thus possible to increase the effectiveness of voluntary organizations and at the same time to reduce their working expenses”.
“XXXI
Venereal Diseases.
The General Council, considering the usefulness of an ever-increasing co-ordination of all efforts in connexion with moral and prophylactic propaganda and the favourable opinions expressed by the Warsaw Conference (April 1923) and the Buenos Aires Conference (December 1923) recommends:
1o That the National Red Cross Societies should collabo- rate in the combating of venereal diseases, either by their direct action in their own country, or through the medium of the “Union Internationale contre le Peril Vénérien”.
2o That a scientific knowledge of the prevention and treatment of venereal diseases should be included in the programme of courses for Hospital and Public Health Nurses”
“XXXII
Cancer
The General Council recommends National Societies to consider Cancer as a social scourge on the same plane as Tuberculosis and Venereal Diseases, and to take part in the campaign against Cancer in the following way:
a) To organize propaganda in such a way as to draw the attention of the public to the necessity for early treatment, as well as to the existing centres for early diagnosis and treatment.
b) To insist on the social importance of including the subject of Cancer in the course of instruction for visiting nurses.
c) To participate, as far as possible, in the hospitalization of cancer patients, in view of the fact that, in many countries, treatment centres cannot give the full measure of their service, owing to lack of beds”
“XXXVIII
Nursing.
Recognizing the educational and economic value of the trained nurse to the nation’s welfare and the need for adequate nursing facilities in time of war, disaster and epidemic, the General Council, realizing that one of the purposes of the National Red Cross Societies is “the improvement of health, the prevention of disease and the mitigation of suffering”, pleads that National Red Cross Societies devote themselves to the development and advancement of nursing resources in their several countries, and recommends:
1. That the promotion and development of public health nursing should form a vital part of the programme of National Red Cross Societies in countries in which National Red Cross Societies are engaged in health activities and in countries in which the Government public and private organizations look to the Society for assistance in their health work.
2. That National Red Cross Societies should endeavour earnestly, in their respective countries, to promote in the minds of the public the national importance of the nurse; to work for the advancement of nursing education; to encourage educated women to enter schools of nursing and to improve the social and economic status of the nurse.
3. That National Red Cross Societies should endeavour to stimulate the development of schools of nursing of the highest order in their respective countries as much as possible in accordance with a plan and curriculum subsequently to be drawn up by the Nursing Advisory Board of the League, providing that institutions of this character do not already exist.
4. That National Red Cross Societies should recognize the value of nursing organizations and should work with them to promote their ideals for the best interest of the countries’ welfare.
5. That National Red Cross Societies should enroll, in a nursing reserve, all qualified nurses in the country who would be in a position to respond to the call of their country in time of war, disaster or epidemic.
6. That while recommending to the National Red Cross Societies the standardization of nurses to be enrolled or trained by the Red Cross Society in the future, we also gratefully recognize the valuable services rendered to their countries, in the past, by those nurses who have received less training, and recommend that they still hold the privilege and title of “Red Cross Nurse“, but that from now onwards all new groups trained by Red Cross Societies in short courses for emergency purposes should be designated “Voluntary Aid Detachments” or by a similar term and should serve under the enrolled Red Cross nurses.
7. In order that the Government and the public of each country may be assured that the National Red Cross Society will provide adequate and efficient nursing service, when called upon, and in order to facilitate international co-operation during war or disaster, that National Red Cross Societies should, hereafter, designate as Red Cross nurses, only those who have graduated from schools of nursing (schools accepting women of higher education) and giving not less than two years of consecutive and full time training, the ideal being a 3 years’ course in connexion with a hospital or hospitals providing medical, surgical and special services.
8. That National Red Cross Societies should appoint an Advisory Nursing Committee consisting of representative nurses and representatives of the medical profession, the health, educational and hospital authorities and others with a knowledge of nursing, to study the need for nursing service, to determine the nursing activities to be undertaken by the National Red Cross Society and to guide its development.
9. That during the ensuing two years the League should continue the International Course in Public Health Nursing and should develop an International Course for the Training of Nurse Administrators and Teachers of Schools of Nurses.
10. That the Nursing Division of the League should be put in a position to advise and assist National Red Cross Societies in the development of their nursing activities”.
“XIII.
The General Council recommends that the Secretariat take occasion, when possible, to extend invitations to member societies to delegate nominees who shall undertake, by means of visits to the headquarters of other national societies and to the headquarters of the League, extensive studies of the organization methods of Red Cross Societies and their activities, notably public health, nursing, popular health instruction and Junior Red Cross”.
“XIV.
The General Council considers that the promotion and stimulation of public health nursing should form an integral part of the programme of every national Red Cross Society, provided this task is not already accomplished by other organizations, and recommends:
1. That each national Red Cross Society appoint a Red Cross Public Health Nursing Committee.
2. That the League continue during the ensuing two years the international course for the training of teachers of public health nursing: and that the League’s Nursing Division be prepared, whenever requested by a national Red Cross Society, to render active help in public health nursing, and to assist in all matters pertaining to the nursing field.
3. That the League Secretariat endeavour to stimulate the organization of schools of nursing of the highest order in those countries in which institutions of this character do not already exist.
4. That all national Red Cross Societies press the public authorities in their respective countries to improve the material and moral standing of public health nurses. The General Council, recognizing the great advantage to be derived from the establishment of an international course of training for teachers in public health nursing at a centre readily accessible to the countries of the two American continents, and the Far East, recommends that the League Secretariat examine the possibilities in this regard in consultation with the Societies concerned, with a view to instituting such a course”.
From the introduction to the Resolutions:
“With our constituent Societies thus strengthened, we feel that the Medical Programme as outlined in the resolutions from that section may be most effectively carried on, embracing as it does the important features of the care and welfare of mothers and children, the treatment and control of tuberculosis and other infectious and contagious diseases and the improvement of sanitation, the , standardisation of vital statistics, and the encouragement of the development of scientific study along practical lines affecting the public health. We advocate through these Resolutions the extension of nursing service in all its branches covering the community, the home and the school as well as along more firmly established lines”.
Resolutions
Tuberculosis.
So far as concerns the participation of the League in the world-campaign against Tuberculosis, the Medical Advisory Board , basing its opinion upon the Programme of the Cannes Conference, consider that the League should proceed to create, in certain districts of one of several of the countries of Europe that are most seriously affected with Tuberculosis, an experimental organisation on a more or less limited basis, expressing in its constitutional part of the general programme. This part should include:
* Resolved; that the League organise an anti-tuberculosis demonstration in one or several countries where this demonstration would be particularly desirable and where the national Red Cross Society would bind itself to continue and to develop the movement undertaken”.
“Child Welfare
Puericulture (Child Welfare) consists not only in the care of sick children, but more especially in the measures as a whole to be adopted with regard to children before and after birth (pre-natal, natal and post-natal), hygiene of pregnancy and nourishment of the mother; hygiene of infancy and nursing; hygiene of early childhood; supervision of growth and protection from communicable diseases, more especially tuberculosis, in order to ensure normal development and avoid illness.
…
National Red Cross Societies should take measures to develop among nurses training in puericulture. The League should, in conformity with its resources, participate in this activity, either by creating or assisting in the creation of schools of puericulture or Child Welfare Centres, or by providing scholarships for doctors and nurses at existing schools of puericulture, such as the Franco-American School of the Faculty of Medicine in Paris or similar schools in other countries, and finally by the dissemination of the means of educative propaganda among the people.”
“Venereal Diseases.
The Medical Advisory Board consider that it would be desirable for the League to devote its attention to the question of education in sex-hygiene and antivenereal propaganda. The Board consider besides that it would be suitable for the League to study the means by which it would be possible to reduce the cost of specifically anti-syphilitic drugs which bring about the prompt disappearance of contagious lesions.
The Board consider that the diffusion of moral and physiological knowledge and of the ideals of purity and integrity of family life cannot be too much encouraged.
Resolved that, whereas venereal diseases are prevalent and dangerous communicable infections against which science has developed a practical programme for eradication, the League (a) recommend to all national Reel Cross Societies the desirability of holding annually, or at frequent intervals, regional conferences upon this subject for friendly review and criticism of the measures proposed, and (b] tender its services to all countries desiring to participate in the organisation of such regional conferences.
“Nursing.
* Resolved that the League urge the establishment in Europe of one or more model Training Schools for Public Health Nurses, but that until this can be realised, there be founded under the supervision of the League, Nursing Scholarships for the national Red Cross Societies for those countries where no such facilities exist in a city chosen as being most appropriate”.
A set of extracts from decisions at the Board of Governors has been made available.
The sources are, as in other cases, located in the archives of the International Federation, which may be contacted through the organization’s contact page.
As is the nature of sources, these are not perfect: some are missing, other contain no information of interest, access is sometimes cumbersome, and interpretation a hazardous sport.
In the best of worlds, more such sources will become available in a public manner – and thus enhance the ability of readers to check what others write.
Resolution No 12
HOME NURSING
The Board of Governors,
having considered the report of the Nursing Advisory Committee relating to the development of Home Nursing instruction,
noting that this report indicates an increasing demand for assistance from the League in organizing and developing national Red Cross Home Nursing Programs,
expresses the wish that such essential programs be furthered in every possible way under Red Cross auspices and recommends:
(a) that Home Nursing instructors, whenever possible, be professional nurses;
(b) that when not enough nurses are available, specially selected non-nurse instructors be trained for the purpose, these to be preferably selected from the teaching, health and social welfare fields and from people who have special teaching abilities;
(c) that Home Nursing instructor trainers and supervisors be specially trained professional nurses;
(d) that the organization of Home Nursing programs be conducted nationally through the national Red Cross Society with the assistance of a nurse adviser for the teaching program and a competent administrator for the general organization of the program;
(e) that in each country close working relationship be established between the national Red Cross Society and the health and education authorities and professional nursing groups in order to bring Home Nursing teaching, and particularly that relating to mother and baby care, in that particular country, into line with the current developments in health care;
(f) that, as a matter of routine, national Red Cross Societies send progress reports to the League Secretariat for information and distribution.
Resolution No. 13
NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS AND STUDY VISITS
The Board of Governors,
agrees that the need for Red Cross scholarships, fellowships and study visits is as important today as ever and, therefore, strongly
recommends that serious consideration be given by national Red Cross Societies to continue to provide scholarships and fellowships for outstanding graduate nurses and that preference be given whenever possible, to a carefully supervised academic year of study abroad,
Resolution No. 14
SHORTAGE OF NURSING PERSONNEL
The Board of Governors,
noting that reports and discussions reveal the shortage of nursing personnel, both professional and auxiliary to be a world-wide problem because the ever-increasing demands the supply,
recognizing that national Red Cross Societies in many countries are helping to meet this shortage and
recognizing the need for a professional group qualified to assume leadership in directing and teaching different categories of nursing personnel, recommends that national Red Cross Societies participate increasingly with the professional nursing organizations and governmental authorities in carrying out studies and in making plans to meet nursing service needs and further
recommends that national Red Cross Societies take full advantage of their broad membership to inform all segments of the population of these important and evolving needs,
Resolution No 16
NATIONAL NURSES‘ ASSOCIATIONS
The Board of Governors,
recalling the recommendations made by the International Red Cross Conference on various occasions concerning the relationship between Red Cross nurses and professional Nurses Associations,
recommends that Red Cross nurses co-operate in all their endeavours with these associations where they exist,
Resolution No. 16
APPROVAL OF REPORT OF NURSING ADVISORY COMMITEE
The Board of Governors
having heard the report of the 11th session of the Nursing Advisory Committee 6, June, 1952,
approves this report and the recommendations it contains.
“RESOLUTION No.7
Nursing’s role in pre-disaster planning and relief
The Board of Governors
recommends that the League’s Nursing Advisers should draw up guidelines on the nurse’s role in pre-disaster planning and relief and should be free to consult such experts as they wish.
recommends further that National Societies be urged to include nurses at all levels as members of the predisaster planning committee, such committees being set up on a multi-disciplinary basis”.
“RESOLUTION No. 8
Inclusion of the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and of the Geneva Conventions in the training syllabus of doctors and nurses
The Board of Governors
recommends that the League approach the ICRC and the WHO to explore the possibility of sending a circular letter to Governments asking them to include in the training syllabus of doctors and nurses the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and of the Geneva Conventions. National Societies should be urged to contact the appropriate Ministers in their respective countries for the same purpose”.
“RESOLUTION No. 9
Report of the Nursing Advisory Committee
The Board of Governors
having heard the report of the Nursing Advisory Committee.
approves the report and congratulates the Committee on its excellent work”.
“RESOLUTION No. 36
Elections
The Board of Governors
7. elects the National Societies of the following countries to membership of the Nursing Advisory Committee (15 members) for a four-year term of office:
Costa Rica; Egypt; Germany (Fed. Rep.); Ghana; Greece; Japan; Korea (Rep.); Lebanon;
Senegal; South Africa; Switzerland; Thailand; Trinidad and Tobago; Turkey; Venezuela”
“RESOLUTION NO. 25
The Red Cross and International Women’ s Year
The Board of Governors,
Recalling that 1975 is International Women’s Year and that throughout this year special attention must be devoted to worldwide study of the promotion of the situation of women, in the context of development and peace,
Endorses fully the noble objectives of International Women’s Year,
Expressed the wish that the documents adopted by the World, Conference on International Women’s Year at Mexico City in June 1975 be studied by the competent bodies of the League”.
“RESOLUTION NO. 18
Coordination of the activities of Advisory Committees
The Board of Governors,
Cognisant of the recommendation of the Health and Social Service Advisory Committee to the 1974 Session of the Executive Committee to the effect that the Health and Social Service, Youth. Nursing and Development Programme Advisory Committees should be merged to form a General Commission that might be called the Standing Programmes Commission;
Agreeing that there is a need for closer coordination of the activities carried on under the competence of these four Advisory Committees;
Believing that the next few years will continue to be critical for the Development Programme;
Recommends that there be regular annual meetings of the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Advisory Committees, possibly with the Committee of the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the League; and,
Recommends further that the Development Programme Advisory Committee remains in being”.
RESOLUTION 35
Elections and Appointments
The Board of Governors.
4. Elects as members of the Nursing Advisory Committee for a period of four years the National Societies bf the following countries:
Egypt; Ghana; Greece; Japan; Mexico; Phillippines; Romania; Thailand”
“Resolution No. 25
Nursing and the Community
The Board of Governors,
Recognizing that in community health services, both preventive and curative, the nurse is called upon to provide leadership and coordination,
Recommends that her expertise be used to the full at all levels, local, national and international, in programme planning, implementation and evaluation,
Furthermore recognizing the need for nurses to keep fully informed of events in professional development,
Also recommends that nurses participate in conferences, workshops and other gatherings at which overall issues of community services are being studied, as well as in educational programmes, which can help them to be pre- pared for the role they should play in community development”.
“Resolution no. 26
Nursing within the League
The Board of Governors,
Taking into account the study on the reappraisal of the role of the Red Cross and the possible re-structuring which may follow.
Recognizing the present development of nursing,
Considering the League to have a dual responsibility
Recommends that a committee of experts in nursing be retained within the statutory structure of the League with a direct channel of communication to the governing bodies of the League”.
“Resolution No. 27
Report of the Nursing Advisory Committee
The Board of Governors,
Having heard the report of the Nursing Advisory Committee,
Approves the report and congratulates the Committee on its excellent work”
“Resolution No. 36
Elections
The Board of Governors,
7. Elects the National Societies of the following countries as members of the Nursing Advisory Committee for a period of four years:
Germany (Fed.Rep.); Great Britain; Korea (Rep.); Lebanon; Netherlands; Switzerland; and
Yugoslavia”
“Resolution No. 22 31st Meeting of the Board of Governors, Mexico City, 12-16 October 1971
NURSING AND DISASTER RELIEF
The Board of Governors.
Approves the guidelines drafted by the Secretariat of the League on the participation of nurses in national and international emergency relief action.
Recommends that these guidelines be disseminated as widely as possible”.
“Resolution No. 23
PLANNING NURSING PROGRAMMES
The Board of Governors,
Recommends that National Societies, when planning nursing programmes, consider the guidelines prepared by the Secretariat of the League of Red Cross Societies”.
“Resolution No. 24
NURSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The Board of Governors,
Recognizing the role played by National Societies in nursing education,
Recommends that during their training nursing-personnel of all categories be informed of community development techniques, emphasizing the principles and methods of investigation into current community needs, especially the importance of including members of the community itself in any such investigation.
“Resolution No. 25
REPORT OF THE NURSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE”
The Board of Governors,
Having taken note of the Report of the Nursing Advisory Committee which held its XXth Session in Geneva from 11 to 13 May 1971,
Approves the Report and congratulates the Committee on its excellent work”.