In July 2024, a significant initiative took place in Guinea, led by the Guinean Red Cross in collaboration with the IFRC Global First Aid Reference Centre. This initiative focused on strengthening the Guinean Red Cross’s capacity to provide first aid training to the general public and in professional settings. Despite being a key player in national first aid education, the Guinean Red Cross faced notable challenges, including a shortage of specialized trainers and inadequate training materials and equipment.
These limitations also extended to the organization’s commercial first aid services. Furthermore, despite engaging in various income-generating activities, such as managing a vehicle fleet, operating an agricultural field, and offering commercial first aid services, the Guinean Red Cross has found it challenging to mobilize sufficient internal resources. This financial shortfall has, in turn, impacted its ability to respond adequately to humanitarian emergencies.
In response to these challenges, the Guinean Red Cross, with funding secured through the IFRC National Societies ‘s support department, launched a project aimed at enhancing its first aid capabilities, including those of its commercial services. The Global First Aid Reference Centre stepped in to provide technical support, marking a critical effort to bolster the organization’s training resources and expertise. The mission’s primary goal is to support and enhance the Guinean Red Cross’s first aid training activities. Specifically, the mission seeks to deliver continuous training to 12 instructor trainers, utilizing the international Level C training curriculum. Furthermore, the mission aims to collaborate with Pierrot Guilavogui and Charlotte Soumah in co-facilitating training sessions, as they undergo evaluation to become certified master trainers of the Global First Aid Reference Centre.
The training mission, spearheaded by Gregory Jouvion, a master educator and expert volunteer from the Global First Aid Reference Centre, includes detailed preparation and execution of training activities. Gregory has led training, working closely with the co-facilitators. Through this collaboration, the Guinean Red Cross aims to improve its service quality and expand its reach, ultimately strengthening Guinea’s overall capacity to manage emergencies and provide life-saving assistance.
