WESTERN PROVINCE

NYABIHU — The Rwanda Red Cross will this year concentrate its activities in the Nyabihu District, the Western Province coordinator, Jean Bosco Musana has said.

Musana was last week addressing Red Cross volunteers who had completed a two-day training on first aid treatment for victims of disasters.

"The meeting is meant to educate our volunteers on topics concerning disaster control methods and how to help people in times of disaster,” he said.

He said they chose Nyabihu because its one of the districts in the province that is prone  to disasters like floods due to the fact that some of the district’s sector units are located below elevated Gishwati hills. The hills have previously triggered floods during the rainy season.

"The Western Province is vulnerable to disasters such as floods due to its hilly nature. There are also active volcanoes which have caused big damages in the past years after triggering strong and destructive winds such as those that hit Gisenyi a few months ago,” he added. 

Rather than wait for disasters, Musana said the volunteers would also move around educating people on soil erosion prevention measures, especially along Gishwati hills.

They will also sensitise residents and work along with them to plant trees on elevated hills in an effort to prevent erosion and strong winds.

According to Musana, the Rwanda Red Cross’s new plan is to have at least 20 volunteers per sector to help in supporting residents in times of intricacy.

Isaac Usabwenimana, one of the volunteers, said the training expanded their knowledge of offering first aid.

"I did not know the first aid needed for a person who has encountered a car accident, some one suffering from burns, the first aid given to a drowning person and many other cases. This training will help me be more useful to residents in my community,” he said.

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