Black Cross Nurses Association (BCNA) is unquestionably one of the oldest Non-Government Organizations in Belize.
It was the cry of Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association – African Communities League that inspired Nurse Vivian Seay and Nurse Cleopatra White in the early1920s to form the organization. The main focus at that time was to “Administer Care to and Assist the Needy.” The Organization served the larger community in family health care with a strong emphasis on baby’s health care. The Black Cross Nurses Association functioned within the communities of the city for many years until the founders were no longer able to support the group which caused it to become dormant for a few years.
Resurrected by the efforts of the late Harold Flowers of the Wesley Methodist Church, he brought together a group of Belizean women including Nurses Grace Collymore and Yvonne Haylock to revive the BCNA in the early 80s. Today, with a slight shift in focus, catering mainly to the elderly, the Black Cross Nurses Association is still vibrant and continues to provide this much needed service within the community.
With an active membership of 21volunteers, each is accepted as a member of the Organization under the agreement that they find at least two elderly members of the community who are over the age of 60 and adopt them as their “shut-in.” The Volunteer has to visit the shut-in on a regular basis and report back to the Organization. If there is a need, the Organization takes appropriate action and or make referrals. The Organization presently caters to the needs of more than 60 shut-ins.
In August of 2006 Black Cross Nurses Association was officially given its Charter (303) with the Universal Negro Improvement Association – African communities League (UNIA-ACL). A Memorandum Of Understanding was signed in which the Organization was assigned a permanent home at Liberty Hall in Belize City. The Former President of the BCNA was also elected as Vice-President of the Belize Chapter of the UNIA-ACL.
Small donations from community members continue to assist greatly in carrying out the organization’s Plan of Action which includes Home Care Services, a Meals-on-Wheels program, activities for the shut-ins as well as outreach programs.
While a small subvention from government assists with funding an office space at #149 Cor. Allenby & West Streets in Belize City, it’s not enough to keep the doors opened full-time as this would require the services of a co-ordinator.
The Black Cross Nurses Association meets on the first Monday of each month, while the Executive Committee meets quarterly.