YOUTH minister Tino Machakaire was recently impressed by how the free basic first aid training programme was being rolled out in the country.
The programme, running under the Presidential Emergency Medical Scheme, is being facilitated by Discovery Ambulance Services.
So far, over 10 000 people of different demographics have been trained and have obtained their certificates.
Some have already joined the emergency response services in the country and abroad.
On Christmas Day, as fun and pompfair engulfed Machakaire village in Hwedza, close to 100 youths opted to undergo the basic first aid training.
Machakaire, who is the Member of Parliament for Hwedza South, said the youths had taken a “better deal” that changes their lives.
Addressing the youths, Machakaire said: “We have organised a lot of activities for everyone, but you chose to make a difference in our community.
“When we have an emergency, say someone has been bitten by a snake, you are now able to respond.
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“I was particularly impressed by how you responded to questions on how to look after someone with epilepsy, these are the sort of trainings that we have been lacking in our rural communities because we have been running away from such patients.
“With this knowledge we are going to change how we view certain health conditions in our society.”
He added that the ingenuity and adaptive nature of the instructors made it possible for people to get training even in the remotest areas of the country.
Discovery Ambulance Services founder and chief executive officer David Munowenyu described the training as the perfect gift for anyone this Christmas.
“We have been running our free first aid training sessions throughout the year. We are following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind,” Munowenyu said.
“We have had so many success stories as youths are being equipped to deal with emergencies as they occur. We have been able to make a societal impact, as people now know what to do in case of emergency.
“Some have been able to kickstart their careers in emergency services because of our programs. So for Machakaire villagers this is a perfect Christmas gift from which you will be able to save lives.”
Hwedza North legislator Itayi Ndudzo encouraged graduates to maintain health standards in their communities.
Meanwhile, government and its strategic partners recently launched the “Drive Safe to Arrive Alive” campaign with an aim to reduce road carnage this festive season.
Speaking at the launch, Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Felix Mhona said he was aware of the corrupt tendencies that had left unroadworthy vehicles on the road, some of them causing accidents.
“Government is aware that many vehicles without certificates of fitness are allowed to be on the road by corrupt officials,” he said.
“However, more often than not, these are the same vehicles that will cause accidents and, of course, unnecessary loss of lives.
“We are going to hold liable those officers who allow road unworthy vehicles liable for any losses.”
Speaking at the same event, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage deputy minister Chido Sanyatwe implored police officers to do their work diligently so that other partners in road services find it easy to do their work.
She said: “We have numerous cases of people who have failed to make insurance claims because police officers would have failed to do their work properly and these situations must be avoided.”
Meanwhile, Munowenyu, the Discovery CEO, said they would station ambulances near all accident blackspots so that they reduce response time.
“We have engaged government so that we can put ambulances near all black spots so that we can reduce unnecessary loss of lives,” he said.
“We want to arrive at all emergencies within the golden hour.
“As Discovery Ambulance Services, we have also been going around the country training basic first aid to communities for free so that in the event of an emergency, communities can assist victims as they wait for ambulances.”
