| Red
Cross and Red Crescent are the pioneers of First Aid. Pakistan
Red Crescent Society has been providing First Aid related services
in Sindh, Punjab and the North West Frontier Province for many
years; however the necessity for conducting First Aid Training
in Islamabad and the surrounding areas was visible and imminent.
On the 1stof February 1999, a Training Centre was established
with the help of St. John Ambulance Association at Pakistan
Red Crescent Society's National Headquarters, Islamabad. Apart
from conducting First Aid Courses, the centre continuously upgrades
material on First Aid and implements projects which are in conformity
with Pakistan Red Crescent Society's Mission. NT&RC's Aim,
"A First Aider in Every Home" directly facilitates
its humanitarian mission to "save lives, prevent physical
disability and alleviate human suffering".
The inspiration behind
this objective is the empowerment of people, enabling them to
respond to daily emergencies where health professionals are
absent or overworked. Pakistan Red Crescent Society is striving
to help the most vulnerable i.e. those who do not have access
to basic amenities to lead a decent and self-subsisting life.
By learning Community Based First Aid (CBFA) the basic knowledge
of how to do what, when faced with an emergency in the house
or in the community will reduce disability, prolonged illnesses
and unnecessary deaths. CBFA also emphasizes preventive health
care and environmental hygiene, which will lead to a healthier
life style. The people to benefit most will be women and the
knowledge thus gained will impart a feeling of self worth and
self-reliance. This will also facilitate the effective management
of disaster on the small scale. With donor support (CIDA and
Swedish Red Cross) Community Based First Aid (CBFA) Courses
are conducted through out the country by trainers who have been
trained by Master Trainers of the training centre.
The NT&RC is in
the process of starting a Nursing Aide / Home Carers course
meant primarily for women so that they can be proficient nurturers
of the ill and elderly in the home and also become economically
independent by working in clinics and private nursing homes.
All courses include
a component on health and environmental issues with emphasis
on blood borne diseases. The centre is in the process of drafting
an HIV/AIDS Programme, the objective of which is to spread awareness
on the subject, undertake training of health personnel, assist
People Living With HIV/AIDS, address stigma related issues and
also inculcate the rational and safe use of blood and blood
products.
At some stage, it
is hoped that this centre can become a full fledged Crisis Management
Centre with an enhanced capacity and it becomes a resource database
centre for disasters through out the region. |
