The main activities of the Russian Red Cross Society in the Oirat Autonomous Region in the 1920s

The purpose of the study is to highlight the main activities of the Russian Red Cross Society (RRCS) in the Oirat Autonomous Region in the 1920s, the work is based on the involvement of a wide range of sources, mainly unpublished materials identified in the State Archive of the Altai Republic (Gorno-Altaysk) and the State Archive of the Altai Territory (Barnaul), and supplemented with information from the periodical press of the 1920s. The activities of the Russian Red Cross Society were restored in Siberia in 1922. In Omsk, the Siberian Regional Office of the RRCS (SIBRRCS) was opened, which was the official representative of the RRCS in the region. Initially, SIBRRCS was engaged in the formation and dispatch of medical and nutritional detachments to help the starving of the Volga region and Siberia. After the settlement of the famine problem in the country, the activities of the RRCS focused around providing medical support to the indigenous population of Siberia. This was largely due to the growth of epidemiological diseases in the region. In 1923-24 ocular and venereal detachments with qualified personnel were sent to the Oirat Autonomous Region, which provided both outpatient admission of patients and performed operations. One of the main objectives of the RRCS was to increase the number of members and open new branches of the organization on the territory. The Oirat Autonomous Oblast, as a new administrative-territorial unit, was one of the promising areas for expanding the sphere of influence of the RRCS. By 1929, there were 11 branches of the organization with 738 members in the region. There are several directions in the work of the RRCS in the Oirat Autonomous Region. One of them was the identification and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases among the indigenous population. However, the fear of a high percentage of the spread of syphilis among the Altaians turned out to be in vain. Basically, the Russian population arriving from the European part of Russia and local Old Believers suffered from this disease. They were the main source of infection of Altaians with syphilis by contact and household means. Another direction can be distinguished by work with infancy and motherhood. Significant funds were allocated by the RRCS for the opening of a nursery in the field. The RRCS staff carried out work on the creation of first aid circles and chemical teams. Collecting donations was also one of the key areas in the work of the RRCS. The "RRCS Week" campaign, as well as events related to the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the RRCS in 1928, contributed not only to replenishing the budget of the organization and its cells, but also to attracting a new number of members. At the end of the study, it is concluded that the activities of the RRCS in the Oirat Autonomous Region were of great importance for the development of the healthcare system in the region. The absence of large settlements with hospitals or paramedic stations made it difficult to obtain the necessary assistance. However, the problem of establishing contact with the indigenous population was an urgent one for the employees of the RRCS. Not only language barrier, but also to the preservation of traditional views and practices regarding medical care among the Altaians in the 1920s played their roles. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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