User:Ariyaratne t hettige/sandbox

Ceylon Red Cross Society
“The Ceylon Red Cross Society was formed on 17th January 1936 at a very largely attended meeting held at Queen’s House presided over by Lady Stubbs. His Excellency the Governor was among those present. Lady Stubbs in the course of her speech made an appeal for a wide spread democratic membership of all classes and communities. The Minister of Health said that before Government gave financial help to the organization the public must do its share.” In March 1935, Dr. Briercliffe, the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services, met Lady Stubbs (wife of the then Governor of Ceylon, Sir Edward Stubbs), to discuss the possibility of inaugurating a public movement such as the Red Cross Society, in Ceylon. At the time, Ceylon had barely emerged from the worst of the Malaria epidemic which had ravaged the island taking a heavy toll of lives. The need for establishing some trained body of volunteers who could be called upon to help in an emergency of this kind, was a thought which was uppermost in the minds of many. On innumerable occasions, Lady Stubbs, had witnessed the valiant struggles of people, living in the villages, who were trying as best as they could to relieve the widespread distress. But these efforts were hampered by inadequate measures towards the welfare of the convalescent. A long term response for this and similar situations in the future, was the formation of the Ceylon Red Cross Society. In the latter part of 1935, in order to support the people and to rescue them from a Malaria epidemic which had hitherto taken the largest number of lives, an appeal to the public for the establishment of the society stated thus: “The recent epidemic of Malaria has shown very clearly the need for a Society, such as ours, in times of national emergencies or disasters, the Red Cross Society would be able to place in the field a body of trained voluntary workers under organized control who could supplement the services of the Government and Local Authorities” The gravity of the Malaria epidemic is evident from an examination of the records after 1911, indicates that the epidemic had taken the largest number of deaths after 1911 - 67,000 deaths in 1919 and 80,000 deaths in 1935. Records also indicate that the British colonial administration had taken necessary steps to control this situation in 1935 -36. After 1935, the death rate had decreased. Further information available in the Administrative Reports of the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services for 1935 and 1936, and from the World Health Organization (WHO), gives the Country Situation, and historical information on Pre-Eradication of Malaria Status in Ceylon and the Commencement of Anti-malaria Activities. It also indicates that the worst and most devastating epidemic occurred in 1934 /35 when 80,000 deaths were reported in seven months of this epidemic. In February 1936, a group of volunteers worked to establish two centers, one in Colombo and the other in Kandy. The first Organizing Secretary was Dr. Fitzroy Keyt, who worked dedicatedly to place the society on a sound footing, of which the Honorary Treasurer was Oliver Goonetilleke, Auditor - General. Lady Stubbs, the first President, outlined the peace- time aims of the Society as being – improvement of health, prevention of disease and the mitigation of suffering. The Society, was formed at a public meeting held at the ‘Queens House’ the residence of the Governor of Ceylon, on 17th January 1936. This was confirmed by the minutes of a Special General Meeting of the Ceylon Red Cross Society, held at ‘Queen’s House’ on 22nd March 1949 at 5 p.m., under the Chairmanship of the Governor-General, Sir Henry Moore, with Lady Moore, President of the Ceylon Central Red Cross Society. The date of the first meeting of the opening of the Society is given as 16th June 1936, sent in a letter by the President and the Honorary Secretary of the newly formed Society for collection of financial assistance, and indicates the name of the Society as The Ceylon Red Cross Society, with, the Governor of Ceylon, Sir Edward Stubbs as a patron of the Society, Lady Stubbs as President, Mrs. Spittel, “Wycherley”, Bullers Road, Colombo, as Hon. Secretary, and Mr. O. E. Goonetilleke. “Evaldon” Castle Street, Colombo, as Hon. Treasurer. 1939 was a year of combined activity and anxiety, consequent to the outbreak of World War II. A list of trained members from all divisions, who were willing to serve in naval and military hospitals in an emergency, was drawn up.1940 A Hospital Supply Association was formed jointly by the Red Cross Society and the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade. The Nursing Service in the Hospital by Voluntary Aid Detachment Nurses was continued. A system of First Aid Posts was organized by Detachment I at carnivals held in Colombo in aid of war funds. 1941-The Red Cross Postal Message Service came into operation on the 27th August 1941 when a large number of messages were received and dispatched to persons in every occupied territory. The Executive Committee decided to carry reserve stocks of various kinds of bandages etc. which could be placed at the disposal of military and naval authorities when the need arose and a sum of Rs. 2500 was voted for this purpose. An Australian Red Cross Society presence was also established in Ceylon in June 1941 when representatives from Australia brought with them 1,500 cases of Red Cross supplies. Similarly the Indian Red Cross Society also had a presence in the same year.