RUST IN PEACE! Mobile Health Van Donated by Canadian Red Cross Society (CRCS) to Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS)- Dakshina Kannada Lies in Dust & Rust
Mangaluru: If you take a walk or ride right behind the new Lady Goschen Hospital, you will be surprised to see a Brand New MOBILE HEALTH VAN costing a few lakhs donated to Indian Red Cross Society all over India, of which one was donated to the Dakshina Kannada Indian Red Cross Society, sometime beginning of 2023. Sources reveal IRCS in Andhra Pradesh has received 14 such vans, which are put into use, benefiting the suffering humanity.
However, it looks like the one such van which might have been given to our local IRCS is sitting idle in a corner with dust and rust accumulating. Can you believe that this Mobile Health Van sponsored graciously by the Canadian Red Cross Society, which is equipped with necessary medical equipment for emergency treatment, spot blood collection vaccine administration etc., is not put into use and simply allowed to lie in a shabby corner filled with grass and surrounded by garbage bags nearby, for nearly a year. The van does not even have a registration number plate. Bah humbug!
A resident of the nearby Wenlock Hospital staff quarters speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” It is unfortunate to note that such a Health service van has been neglected for nearly a year, and not made use of is accumulating dust and a few spots of the van are rusting. Me and my son sometimes once or twice a month wash the exterior of this van to keep it clean. Unfortunately, the board members and other members of the DK Indian Red Cross Society have abandoned such a gifted van by the Canadian Red Cross, which is indeed a sad affair”.
It should also be noted, as per a member of the Rotary Club of Mangalore, that a couple of years ago, through the International Rotary Foundation the Rotary Club of Mangalore had donated a Blood Bank Bus and also a Women’s Wellness Clinic Bus to the DK Indian Red Cross Society, and since both the buses were not maintained and not put into use regularly by DK-IRCS, the Rotary Club of Mangalore a few months ago had handed over both the buses to Yenepoya Medical College Hospital and both the Blood Bank Bus and Women’s Wellness Clinic Bus are on the road constantly serving the society for a good cause.
It is learnt that with a Mission, the Canadian Red Cross is helping people and communities in Canada and around the world in times of need and supporting them in strengthening their resilience. The Canadian Red Cross Society is part of the largest humanitarian network in the world, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This network includes the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation) and 192 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies dedicated to improving the situation of the most vulnerable worldwide. In 2023, CRCS donated a bunch of Mobile Health Vans across India, of which Mangaluru might have received one- and it is very sad to note that such a gifted Mobile Health Van for a good cause is allowed to RUST and accumulate DUST!