Mexican Red Cross

The Mexican Red Cross is a non-governmental humanitarian assistance organization affiliated with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to help those in dangerous situations, such as natural disasters, as well as providing human health services. The organization finances its aid, assistance, and education programs through the work of thousands of volunteers and donation from individuals, institutions, organizations, associations and companies. It originated with a presidential decree in 1910 and was recognized internationally in 1912. Today it participates in national and international aid and disaster relief missions as well as various health services, training in first aid and for emergency medical technicians. Early in its history, it developed a program in nursing, which eventually became the Escuela Nacional de Enfermería y Obstetricia (National School of Nursing and Obstectrics), today part of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

The organization's history began in 1898, when the Spanish Red Cross inquired to the government of Mexico about the creation of public institutions to cooperate with military medical units. In 1907, President Porfirio Díaz signed a decree to have Mexico adhere to the Geneva Convention of 1864, especially to improve the care of the wounded and sick on battlefields. Two years later, the first provisional board of the Mexican Red Cross was established, which assisted in the floods in the city of Monterrey in 1909. The country's first brigade carrying Red Cross insignia left Mexico City for the stricken Monterrey and their efforts were recognized by the Mexican federal government.

The success of this first effort led to a 1910 presidential decree that provided official recognition to the Mexican Red Cross, allowing for the first official board to be created that same year. In 1912, the organization received international recognition through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The first national convention was held in 1940 and in 1950, the Mexican Red Cross and the Ministry of Defense signed an agreement establishing their relations during peacetime. In 1968, Mexican Red Cross's main hospital opened in the Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City.

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