Red Cross staff get skills on disasters
Aug 12, 2008
FIFTEEN Uganda Red Cross Society branch staff and coordinators from 10 districts have been trained on how to save lives during disasters.
By Abdulkarim Ssengendo
FIFTEEN Uganda Red Cross Society branch staff and coordinators from 10 districts have been trained on how to save lives during disasters.
The participants were drawn from Kabale, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Busia, Kampala, Mbale, Lira, Moroto, Arua and Gulu. The training covered first aid, intermediate life support, the functioning of the respiratory system, how to handle head and spine injuries and controlling blood flow after someone gets injured in an accident or disasters like earth quakes.
It was also noted that the skills were necessary given that health centres are not as widespread in the country.
The two-week seminar was conducted by Shimon Shitrit and Yosi Kitaro from Israel at Meliva Guest House in Mbarara town.
Robert Ssebunya, the vice-chairman of the Red Cross Society central governing board, said Uganda’s doctor-to-patient ratio was low and there was limited ambulance services in the community, hence the need for volunteers.
He said the 15 people would pass on their newly-acquired skills to other staff to have a strong emergency response team in the communities.
Ssebunya added that the society plans to re-activate its emergency response system by ensuring that if a disaster struck, they would be able to provide ambulance services and a well-equipped emergency response team.
A trainee, Saul Alex, said accidents were second to malaria in killing people in Uganda and yet no special attention has been given to accident prevention.
Shitrit and Kitaro are from Magen David Adom, a humanitarian organisation under the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.
FIFTEEN Uganda Red Cross Society branch staff and coordinators from 10 districts have been trained on how to save lives during disasters.
The participants were drawn from Kabale, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Busia, Kampala, Mbale, Lira, Moroto, Arua and Gulu. The training covered first aid, intermediate life support, the functioning of the respiratory system, how to handle head and spine injuries and controlling blood flow after someone gets injured in an accident or disasters like earth quakes.
It was also noted that the skills were necessary given that health centres are not as widespread in the country.
The two-week seminar was conducted by Shimon Shitrit and Yosi Kitaro from Israel at Meliva Guest House in Mbarara town.
Robert Ssebunya, the vice-chairman of the Red Cross Society central governing board, said Uganda’s doctor-to-patient ratio was low and there was limited ambulance services in the community, hence the need for volunteers.
He said the 15 people would pass on their newly-acquired skills to other staff to have a strong emergency response team in the communities.
Ssebunya added that the society plans to re-activate its emergency response system by ensuring that if a disaster struck, they would be able to provide ambulance services and a well-equipped emergency response team.
A trainee, Saul Alex, said accidents were second to malaria in killing people in Uganda and yet no special attention has been given to accident prevention.
Shitrit and Kitaro are from Magen David Adom, a humanitarian organisation under the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement.