Indian Red Cross Society

The Social and Emergency Response Volunteer (SERV) Programme has been meticulously crafted to bolster community resilience through comprehensive training delivered by Master trainers, Instructors, and SERV volunteers across India. The envisioned outcome is to establish a network of approximately 1000 adept SERV volunteers and two proficient SERV instructors within each district nationwide. Additionally, at least one Master trainer will be designated within each state Red Cross branch. With their training, these SERV volunteers will take on a pivotal role, disseminating crucial health and disaster-related information, while spearheading social campaigns within their communities. In the event of emergencies such as disasters, they will be at the forefront as first responders from the community.

The IRCS Blood Bank stands as a trailblazer in the realm of blood services. Blood is an indispensable healthcare asset utilized routinely across a wide spectrum of medical procedures. However, it also holds the potential to transmit hazardous and occasionally life-threatening infectious diseases such as HIV, HBV, and HCV. Individuals seeking blood transfusions must hold a legitimate concern for the quality of the blood they receive. This concern is especially pronounced for patient groups who, due to repeated blood transfusions, are more susceptible to infections transmitted through blood transfusion. As a result, ensuring the quality and safety of blood becomes paramount for their well-being. The IRCS Blood Centre employs advanced 3rd and 4th generation testing methods to ensure the high-quality screening of all donated blood for potential transfusion-transmitted infections such as HIV-I & II, Hepatitis B & C. Although no laboratory can offer an absolute guarantee of 100% safety, the

The Indian Red Cross Society is an integral part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. One of the fundamental activities consistently undertaken by all national societies is the provision of first aid training and coverage.
In the present context, First Aid has become a cornerstone and essential aspect of the organisation’s operations. This stands as a significant forte within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The National Headquarters is consistently orchestrating workshops and training sessions in basic First Aid, with the intention of keeping volunteers up-to-date with the latest developments in this domain. This proactive approach contributes to enhancing the capabilities of IRCS's First Aid trainers. It also contributes to bolstering the capacity of IRCS Branches across India, allowing them to effectively respond to humanitarian requirements, both during emergencies and in providing ongoing support to the most vulnerable individuals. Trained personnel ar

Initiated in 2016, a long-term partnership focusing on livelihood projects was established with the objective of addressing the livelihood requirements within vulnerable households and communities identified across selected IRCS State Branches.
The core strategy for implementing these livelihood initiatives is grounded in a need-based approach, which is determined through participatory needs assessments conducted within each respective state. In Manipur and Jammu & Kashmir, the focus is on women-headed households, while in Odisha and Maharashtra, vulnerable communities take precedence as identified beneficiaries.

Tuberculosis (TB) constitutes a significant public health challenge in India. As per World Health Organization (WHO) assessments, India contends with the world's largest tuberculosis outbreak. The Indian Red Cross Society has taken on an increasingly pivotal role in ensuring the successful treatment of TB cases while striving to eradicate stigma and discrimination faced by patients. IRCS aims to alleviate the burden of Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB by focusing on a range of patients, spanning from those in vulnerable categories to those requiring retreatment. A stringent supervision of their treatment and diligent follow-up procedures are observed.
Since 2009, Indian Red Cross Society has been actively engaged in providing assistance to TB patients at the grassroots level in various states. In 2017, the Indian Red Cross Society extended its efforts to encompass 700 category II patients in specific regions of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Gujarat.

The Youth programme is driven by three primary objectives:
1. To elevate comprehension of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and its Fundamental Principles, fostering a sense of peace and unity among both youth and the chosen communities.
2. To bolster the capabilities of the Youth Red Cross (YRC) in the realms of Hygiene Promotion, Household Water Treatment, Basic First Aid, and the cultivation of peace and unity.
3. To actively contribute to heightening awareness and inducing shifts in behaviour within the targeted communities regarding Hygiene Promotion, Household Water Treatment, and basic First Aid.

Given the increasing demand for Health Care Attendants to assist the elderly, disabled, and critically ill individuals, the Indian Red Cross Society is poised to introduce the Home Health Aide Course in partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, along with collaboration from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Safdarjang Hospital. The primary objective of this course is to equip young individuals from the community with the necessary skills to provide essential Home Health Care services to those in need. Additionally, the course aims to empower the youth by furnishing them with valuable skill sets that foster self-reliance and enhance their employability prospects.