World First Aid Day: Training centres to be set up in 40 districts

Will increase capacity of PRCS in imparting First Aid Training to over 25,000 persons annually.

At least 40 disaster-prone districts in the country will be equipped with first aid training centres in the next five years.

This was stated by Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Secretary General Dr Mahboob Sardar on the occasion of World First Aid Day, said a press release on Friday.

Sardar told media that the philosophy behind first aid is to save lives, prevent physical disability and alleviate human suffering by responding with available resources to daily emergencies, disasters or conflict situations where health professionals are either absent or overworked.

The International Red Cross Movement began with provision of First Aid when its founder Henry Dunant witnessed suffering of soldiers on the battlefield of Solferino, Italy in 1859 and provided aid to thousands of injured soldiers with the help of local women and youth.

With the establishment of these training centres, the capacity of the PRCS in imparting First Aid Training will increase from 8,000 to 9,000 persons, to over 25,000 persons annually.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2012.