A collaboration between the Nuanua O Le Alofa (NOLA) and Red Cross has made it possible for a first-of-its-kind workshop that trained people with disabilities in first aid skills.

The Red Cross Health Coordinator and a senior first aid instructor, Aiolupotea Goretti Wulf, led the training program for persons with disabilities. The three-day course taught the participants on basics of first aid theory and practicals.

“This is a first-of-its-kind training, even for me in over 20 years of carrying out training for the Samoa Red Cross,” she said. “It was a big challenge because I didn’t know what to expect out of this. 

"I was sceptical about it but at the end of these three days we’ve been working together with the group here, it has made me realise how much I have learnt from this too."

Aiolupotea said the first aid training workshop was an eye-opening experience for herself given it being the first of its kind across the region.

“This is something that we take advantage of and this is really a blessing for me to be a part of this. We are looking at taking this to other Pacific nations in the region after its success here,” she said. “We are looking forward to reviewing our curriculum that we have to meet the needs of the disabled and change it to that.”

There were 18 graduates from the first aid training workshop and 15 of them were persons with disabilities while the other three are staff members. They also revealed plans to possibly host another workshop, similar to what they did with a more improved simulation exercise so that they can put to use what they learnt.

NOLA Manager, Mata'afa Fa'atino Utumapu, officially closed the program and said the workshop had proven to be a very productive session for the participants.

“First aid as we all know is critical in ensuring the safety and security of individuals from emergencies. This is the first time we are including persons with diverse disabilities following this trial training,” she said. “As we all know, the cost of inclusion is high but as we progress I hope that we will realize that all efforts count and we won’t be able to be counted unless we are counted.”