Papua New Guinea: Volunteers trained to give first aid to remote communities

Bougainville (ICRC) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is supporting volunteers from the PNG Red Cross Society (PNGRCS) to attend a week-long First Aid training of trainers currently running in Buka, Bougainville.

The training includes cardio pulmonary resuscitation, treatment of poisoning, bandaging and transportation of people with injuries. The trained volunteers will then carry out similar training in communities in Buka, Arawa and Buin, Bougainville.

"The training is part of our strategy to reach out to distant communities, who don't have access to healthcare. People should have to understand that when an accident happens, simple first aid can ease people's injuries and save lives", said PNRGCS Bougainville Branch coordinator, Aidah Kenneth. She said improving knowledge on how to give basic first aid for victims of road traffic accidents, domestic violence injuries, or knife and spear wounds was important in rural communities around Bougainville.

The training is facilitated by a team from PNGRCS headquarters and ICRC first aid instructors who flew in from Port Moresby.

According to ICRC Head of Office in Bougainville, Umar Naseem Khan, "the first aid training initiative from the Red Cross Branch is timely and will help boost their capacity during community emergencies and strengthens the partnership between ICRC and the PNG Red Cross".

The ICRC has offices in Buka and Arawa and works to raise awareness on the issue of missing persons on the island of Bougainville as well as visiting places of detention in Beikut prison and Kerevat in East New Britain province.

For further information, please contact:
Albert Madrazo, ICRC Port Moresby, tel. +675 708 80 624