Las enfermeras de la Juventud Femenina de la Acción Católica en la Guerra Civil Española y la Constitución de Salus Infirmorum

Abstract

The health requirements brought about by the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) led to the urgent organisation of health services. Nurses played a crucial role and generously took care of the civil and military populations. Objetive: we want to highlight the work carried out by nurses of the women’s branch of the Catholic Action Youth, led by their president María de Madariaga, who was appointed Deputy Inspector of women’s hospital services; and justify the creation of the Sisterhood of Nurses Salus Infirmorum. Method: It is study historical-desccriptive, based on primary and secundary sources from the archives of Catholic Action Youth and Salus Infirmorum. Results: Over 4,500 nurses of the Women's Catholic Action Youth provided care and assistance in hospitals, pharmacies, and garment workshops for combatants, visited hospitals and trained nurses. This work led to the subsequent creation of the Salus Infirmorum Sisterhood in 1942 founded by María de Madariaga as a group of Catholic nurses.Conclusion: The young women of JFAC actively participated in the national camp. Finished the war, it is created and and developed the Salus Infirmorum Sisterhood as a result leadership by María de Madariaga in the JFAC.