The first aid programme organized by the Papua New Guinea Red Cross aims to provide these young people with skills, build their self-esteem and give them a sense of purpose in their communities.(p13245)
The Papua New Guinea Red Cross has been targeting its first aid courses at unemployed young people.
Many of those living in the settlements around the country’s capital of Port Moresby are out of school and out of work. Some have been attracted to the city from rural areas only to find work elusive. The crime rate in the area is high.
The first aid programme organized by the Papua New Guinea Red Cross aims to provide these young people with skills, build their self-esteem and give them a sense of purpose in their communities.
The first aid courses are also an important means by which the Red Cross can reach in to these communities. First aid has integrated with other Red Cross programmes such as HIV/AIDS and disaster preparedness by using theatre and drama to raise awareness of wider health issues.
The initial three-day basic first aid course was held for 200 young people split into ten groups. Their interest and involvement was overwhelmingly positive.
Fifty of the original group were then selected to take part in a two-day sports injury course. This focused on injury prevention, treatment and the use of specialised sports first aid kits.
The final part of the programme saw 19 of the young people attend a five-day community-based youth first aid instructor course. This has given them the skills they need to teach first aid in their own communities and eventually in surrounding settlements.
There has been a tremendous response to the programme from within the communities and the numbers volunteering to join the Red Cross have increased markedly. At the same time, the skills and knowledge learned through the first aid courses have boosted the young people’s morale and raised their self-esteem as active members of those communities.