Rwanda Red Cross (RRC) yesterday joined the rest of world in celebrating World First Aid Day (WFAD) for the tenth time ever since The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) introduced it in the year 2000.

The event kicked off with a walk that saw volunteers march from Sainte Famille Church in Kigali City to RRC headquarters in Kacyiru where other activities took place.
Addressing the press, the Director General of RRC, Apollinaire Karamaga, said the day was not only important in highlighting RRC’s activities - especially in the First Aid department - but also in creating public awareness .

"It’s time that people understood the need for voluntary work so as to engage in it so that in times of need, support is given especially, to those who may not be able to support themselves,” Karamaga said.

Charles Muvura, in charge of First Aid programme, at RRC, noted that extra effort is needed to ensure that the public realizes the need for first aid services which might increase the number of volunteers.

"We have trained 600 volunteers countrywide and we also made sure that in each district, there are 20 volunteers and 100 in Kigali,” he said.

The official however appealed to the government, local and international NGOs, to effectively join the awareness campaign so that Rwandans appreciate and get involved in giving First Aid.

This year, World First Aid Day was celebrated under the theme "First Aid for a safer future.”

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