03 Oct 2017

Moshupa Sub-district chief medical officer, Dr Malebogo Rauwe says first aid is an essential pillar in building safer and more resilient communities to increase the impact of disaster preparedness and reduce exposure to health hazards.

Speaking at the World First Aid commemoration day held under the theme First Aid and Domestic Accident in Moshupa recently, Dr Rauwe said often times lives were lost in accidents in the absence of first aiders.

Thus, he said first aid was a-must-have skill because it enhanced chances of survival in accidents and thus people must be equipped with a view to save lives.

He indicated that many people who had suffered a cardiac arrest usually reached hospital with an outside chance of survival because bystanders had little or no assistance, owing to lack of first aid skills.

“It is quite evident that around the world elderly people face medical emergencies such as sugar diabetes, cardiac arrest and others more frequently than young people due to effects of aging, therefore it is important for people to be empowered,” he said.

Dr Rauwe said the event aimed to raise awareness on the importance of first aid.

Thus, he commended Botswana Red Cross Society (BRCS) for their efforts to educate Batswana on first aid and other life skills.

Moshupa branch BRCS chairperson, Ms Thebolo Ndlovu encouraged residents to take advantage of the platform to acquire life saving skills.

Ms Ndlovu said the more people acquired the skills the better for any community.

She thus urged the private sector to support BRCS and enable it to reach out to as many people as possible and save lives.

Moshupa Sub-district Council chairperson, Mr Sonny Phiri urged community leaders to join BRCS.

Mr Phiri said that would motivate many people to also develop interest to acquire critical life skills they offered.

Again, he encouraged Moshupa residents to utilise the Red Cross offices for their own benefit. ENDS