The Ministry of Education has lauded the Zambia Red Cross Society for training school going children in first aid treatment.
Lusaka District Education Board Secretary, Guidance Officer, Agness Mutale says her ministry is particularly delighted that the Society is making deliberate efforts to equip differently abled children with first aid training and Psychosocial counseling.
Ms Mutale was speaking during the World First Aid Day Commemoration held at Cheshire homes in Lusaka today, under the theme; “Be a Hero at school and in the community”
Ms Mutale who was a guest of honor, further stated that the theme creates an opportunity to raise awareness as it addresses first aid practices in schools, enabling students to become heroes as they address the importance of administering first aid.
Ms Mutale noted that children face life threatening situations in their everyday life hence the need to train them with lifesaving skills and taking care of their mental well-being.
“I want to thank Cheshire homes management for their efforts in building the capacity of many children who are now well placed in the communities over the years,” Ms Mutale said.
And Zambia Red Cross Society, Communications and Public Relations Manager, Esther Phiri, who represented the Secretary General, said the society decided to train children in first aid because the more certified people there are in a community, the safer the community becomes.
Ms Phiri said the society also decided to introduce psychosocial first aid training because of the stress levels of individuals due to factors like economic, social and financial aspects in this COVID-19 era.
“The mandate of the Zambia Red Cross Society is to save lives and change minds. The society is mandated to save the lives of the vulnerable in the community and to change the minds of decision makers,” she explained.
She noted that the society successfully conducted the first aid and basic psychosocial counseling to students between the ages of 5 to 14 years at Cheshire homes between the 9th and September 10th , 2021.
Meanwhile, Cheshire homes Management Representative, Peter White thanked Red Cross society for training the children, saying it will help them to develop confidence.
Mr White said Cheshire homes handle about 200 differently abled children across the country between the ages of 5 to 14.
He said the homes take care of the less abled children regardless of their race and status in society.
“Government is delighted”……. In my view they should be ashamed: why are we relying on a foreign charity, for something that our education system should take care of all by itself?