Access to First Aid in any educational institution is vital for the health and safety of students and staff. In Uganda this is officially recognised (click for references) but in practice for a variety of reasons, access is often totally absent. The UNA Eastbourne’s project work in schools in eastern Uganda made us aware of this problem and prompted us into action.

In 2013 Tom Wardale, an Advanced First Aid Trainer attached to St. John Ambulance Eastbourne, travelled to Mbale for a month to conduct First Aid workshops at a variety of educational institutions. Tom’s first workshop was at the Bungohko Rural Development Centre, Mbale (BRDC). At this centre there are over 30 staff, 130 students (including many boarders) and over 140 nursery children. In 2013 without a single trained First Aider on-site, it was imperative to rectify the situation and training of both staff and interested students was accomplished. In Mbale the Child Restoration Outreach (CRO), a centre looking after the welfare of hundreds of street children, enlisted the support of Tom to provide workshops for their Youth Leaders. Following on from these early successes Tom extended his training to staff at several secondary schools and finally to nurses at the Health Centre Level 3 in Busembatia, Iganga district. By the end of his stay, Tom had trained some eighty First Aiders. This was a great start to the UNA Eastbourne’s efforts to assist in vital development work. (click for Tom’s Uganda report to the UNA Trustees).

Tom Wardale on his first 4 days of workshops with staff at BRDC, Mbale

Tom Wardale instructs CRO youth leaders on the use of triangular bandage to support arm injuries

Tom Wardale at Busembatia Health Clinic, Iganga District, handing First-Aid certificate to a nurse. On Tom’s left -assistant trainer Louise Johns On Tom’s right – Ian Elgie, Chair UNA Eastbourne

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In 2015 we were fortunate to have the voluntary services of Phil Bastable, an experienced First Aid instructor and examiner, to conduct workshops in Bulambuli and Sironko districts, eastern Uganda for rural primary school teachers and several local health clinics. Phil again volunteered his services in July 2016 when he was invited by the UNA Uganda to train up university student volunteers in Kampala. From his experience in 2015, where workshops of up to 25 participants made teaching very demanding, Phil was able to set out a more effective programme for workshops limited to 12 participants and with a focus on the most pressing First Aid needs in schools, namely: unconscious patients; epilepsy; CPR; choking; burns; bleeding and fractures/dislocations.

Triage exercise for Muyembe primary school teachers

Phil Bastable (centre) with 20 primary school teachers in Bulambuli district with their certificates as successful First Aiders far-left assistant trainer Sumit Strestha and far-right assistant trainer Joseph Harvey

Phil Bastable with University students in Kampala holding their First Aid Certificates – top right, Jayvin Harris

The UNA-UK Trust fund, together with the UNA Eastbourne branch, provided financial grants to both Tom Wardale and Phil Bastable as a contribution towards their personal expenses. Together our two First Aid volunteers trained over 150 teachers, nurses and students in basic First Aid, in institutions critically in need of such support.

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Do you have First-Aid skills?
Why not volunteer your services for a short time in Uganda?
For details contact: Ian Elgie (ianelgie@hotmail.com)