Red Crescent saves lives

Cyprus International University (CIU), School of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing Chair Prof. Dr. Hatice Sütçü Çiçek, drew attention to the importance of Red Crescent for the society, and stated that various activities were organized to raise awareness of Red Crescent to children and young people, within the scope of Red Crescent week, which is celebrated between 29th October and 4th November.

Çiçek stated that the history of Red Crescent stems from the Ottoman Empire period, established to help wounded and sick soldiers, and obtained its present name with the suggestion of Atatürk. Çiçek went on to say, “The Red Crescent is a voluntary social service institution that provides a free service, and carries the basic principles of the International Red Crescent-Red Cross Society, such as humanism, non-discrimination, impartiality and independence, in the form of a charity, with the principles of unity and universality”.

Broad mission areas of the Red Crescent
Prof. Dr. Çiçek pointed out that the Red Crescent has a range of different missions, and reminded that the organization provides a wide range of services in war, peace, natural disasters and all extraordinary situations, ranging from the construction of shelters and hospitals, to drilling water wells, and from food aid to blood donation, in Turkey and abroad.

Northern Cyprus Turkish Red Crescent Association
As well as Red Crescent awareness and international recognition activities, Çiçek stated that the Turkish Red Crescent Society of Northern Cyprus provides psychosocial support, medicine and food aid to the needy and refugees, and that they cooperate with the ministries on various issues such as providing first aid cabinets and intensive care beds to hospitals.

Blood donation is neceessary
Prof. Dr. Çiçek stated that more than 18 thousand units of blood donations were collected in the last four years, 3308 of which were collected this year, via the two blood sampling devices owned by the Red Crescent, adding that the donated blood strengthens many peoples connection to life, especially those with thalassemia.

Drawing attention to the necessity of blood donation in her statement, Çiçek stated that it is important for every individual living in the TRNC to donate blood if they carry the necessary characteristics, or to make a financial contribution in proportion to their economic power.