Jaymee B. Quindara Family and Community Medicine

MMSU-COM

Evaluation: Vision, Mission and Goals of the Philippine Red Cross

Red Cross was born from the concept of humanitarianism. Henry Dunant was just a mere

businessman seeking for Napoleon III to be given certification for his trade; however, his eyes

were opened to the tragic conditions brought by war on both sides of the war. From his initiative

and with the help of the other people, Red Cross was born. Up until this time, Red Cross is still

known as an independent humanitarian organization that provides care, help, and assistance to

people, community and nations not only during war times but also during disasters and national

calamities (during Haiti earthquake, Super typhoon Yolanda, Bohol earthquake) and even during

epidemics (Ebola epidemic in Western Africa). But most of us know Red Cross as a center that

provides Blood services.

Red Cross operates on seven fundamental principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality,

Independence, Voluntary service, Unity, and Universality. In my opinion, Red Cross has

maintained these seven fundamental principles as I have observed in the past. Red Cross does

serve humanity and not systems or political parties. They provide medical care to injured people

during war no matter what side the person was. In the latest outbreak of ebola, many Red Cross

nurses volunteered from different Red Cross Societies to assist in controlling and eradicating the

epidemic in Western Africa and coordinated with the WHO and MSF to avoid further outbreaks.

“The Philippine Red Cross will be the foremost humanitarian organization in the

Philippines in services provided and number of people served.”, is the vision of Philippine Red

Cross “The Philippine Red Cross provides timely, efficient and responsive humanitarian

services to the most vulnerable in accordance with the principles and values of the Red Cross and

Red Crescent Movement” is their mission. For me they are living up with their vision and

mission as seen by their services and actions especially in times of calamities. I have observed

that they are the one who are first at disaster areas most of the time. They coordinate with local

government but do not allow them to have a control to them for their ulterior motives. They

assist people even from those out reached places. I also observed that they have good teamwork

when responding to accidents to provide fast, efficient and compassionate care to victims. In line

with their vision, mission and goals, they also provide trainings not only for health care providers

but also to lay person about first aid and basic life support that I myself had attended to. This is

to make more people aware on what to do in emergency situation and to provide fast, correct and

compassionate care to those who are in need. Besides physical health Philippine Red Cross also

promoted psychological health with their social services programs as seen many times during the

aftermath of a calamity. They provide stress-debriefing and activities to care for the mental

health of the victims especially on the vulnerable groups (e.g. children).

The Philippine Red Cross Blood Services is one of the major suppliers of blood in the

country. Its vision “PRC, the leading provider of safe quality blood and blood products in the

Philippines.” and its mission “To save lives by providing safe blood and blood products in a cost

effective manner as a fulfillment of the social responsibility of the Philippine Red Cross.”

Indeed Philippine Red Cross has been providing safe blood products to those who are in need.

Even in my province, La Union, Red Cross is known to be the main center for providing blood

especially during peak seasons of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Though in Ilocos Norte, Mariano

Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center is the leading source of blood products, we

cannot disregard the help PRC have provided in during dengue season. And with its continuous

upgrading of its facility and equipment nationwide from generous donors, the Philippine Red

Cross will continually provide safe blood products to the Filipinos.