Located in South-East Asia, Timor-Leste is known to be prone to disasters. The majority of the population is based in rural areas, where strong barriers for people to travel to healthcare services and for ambulance services to reach certain districts exist. Besides, some beneficiaries may feel sensitive to new surroundings, unfamiliar treatments and under resourced health system, etc. In the face of these difficulties, having people trained in First Aid nearby provide lifesaving treatment in the absence of alternatives. This is why the Timor-Leste Red Cross Society developed an activity in order to train rural communities in first aid.

Learning first aid skills to build confidence in medical services

For this training, it was essential to adapt the learning process to the audience which was varied: Integrated Community Based Risk Reduction target, students from a rural school, young people, fishermen and the general community of the rural area. Thus, the communities’ needs were assessed and, after that, they were given first aid courses by being divided into 2 groups – one group as victims and another as rescuers – to practice first aid based on assigned scenarios.

Basically, the trainees were prepared to observe, evaluate and give feedback to communities during their first aid practice. Elisabeth Belo, a volunteer of Timor-Leste Red Cross Society, added:

“This training is not a first aid certification course. The goal is to help communities understand and give first aid correctly.”

A first aid trainer demonstrated how to wounds bandaging and physical examination at Mauluto village of Liquica Municipality.

The apprentice fishermen living on the beach practiced the methods of moving people with different ways such as planned moves at Uaro-Ana village of Atauro Island.

A first step towards the promotion of first aid, but still a few obstacles

Thanks to this training, Timor-Leste Red Cross volunteers have contributed in enhancing volunteer knowledge and skills on first aid, and increased the number of people able to provide first aid through training and education for the community. The National Society even went further by promoting public awareness of the importance of first aid, and raising income through its commercial first aid operation which is a way to guarantee the sustainability of the organization.

However, despite this notable progress, some barriers still remain within the community. Elisabeth confided:

“Some outcomes were not addressed as expected because of some reasons such as the lack of community participation because they were too busy with their personal activities, the community’s confidence to apply first aid, and the community’s access to the health facility to get professional medical treatment.”