Those who visit Germany may be somewhat puzzled to see ambulances and other rescue vehicles with the Maltese Crosson a red background and the word ‘Malteser’.
On the other hand, the emblem could be familiar to those watching TV coverage of natural disasters and catastrophes all over the world. The emblem is the now world-renowned badge of Malteser International.
Immediately after World War II, some people in Germany felt they should do something to help the sick, the elderly, people with disability and others.
Great minds in Caritas and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta got together and decided to form an organisation that could offer the required assistance.
They also provided funds through the Church in Germany and the Malteser Hilfsdienst (Maltese aid service) was born.
Malteser started developing rapidly in German cities and such was the impact it made that in certain areas the government too felt that the organisation could be trusted, together with other organisations, to run the ambulance service.
More members began to join the organisation, both the Catholic Malteser and its Protestant sister organisation, Johanniter Unfall-Hilfe (St John Accident Assitance) and volunteers started teaching first aid to young people and adults alike.
The administration of hospitals was something Malteser also began to specialise in,with a new arm, Malteser Werke, becoming active in hospital management.
But Malteser did not stop here. It had already spread throughout Eastern Europe but felt it should reach further and offer a helping hand to those really in need.
Malteser International has become the strongest section of the popular Malteser movement and is now the worldwide relief organisation of the Sovereign Order of Malta for humanitarian aid.
Malteser International is a truly professional organisation. Its annual review and financial report for 2011 lists projects in over 20 countries to assist those in need. Africa, Asia and America have become the ‘home’ of Malteser International thanks to projects being carried out there.
Under the able leadership of its president, Baron Johannes Heereman, and secretary-general Ingo Radtke as well as a very professional team, Malteser is developing emergency relief projects in Kenya, Pakistan, Japan, South Sudan, Thailand, Congo, Haiti, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Peru, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
Malteser has really lived up to its name. It has given the Maltese Cross another honourable meaning all over the world and is expected to extend its activities to other countries, subject to funds being made available through Germany, SMOM and international organisations such as the UN.
A sister organisation of the Malteser in Malta is the Maltese Cross Corps, which has been running the state-subsidised Meals on Wheels service since its very beginning.
Mr Galea is the international secretary of the Maltese Cross Corps and the Malta representative of Malteser International.