While Rwanda National Police officers are often the first responders at the scene of an emergency, many lack training in essential areas such as emergency first aid, road traffic crash response, and basic life support (BLS, including Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation CPR).
To address this critical gap, Healthy People Rwanda (HPR), with support from the U.S. Embassy in Rwanda, partnered with the Rwandan Emergency Care Association (RECA) on the project titled “Increasing Emergency Medical and Road Traffic Crash Response Training in Rwanda.”
Within just one year of implementation, this initiative successfully trained 2,828 Rwanda National Police officers from various units, including medical battalion, traffic police, the Special Intervention Force, and the fire brigade. These officers are now equipped with vital first aid skills and immediate emergency care techniques, significantly enhancing their ability to save lives.
This initiative aligns with the Rwanda National Police's vision: “People in Rwanda are safe, involved, and reassured.” By empowering first responders with essential skills, the project contributes to a reduction in death and disability both in the short and long term.
At the closure of this important project, HPR President Dr. Innocent Nzeyimana emphasized the importance of prioritizing police officers for this training, stating, “They are almost always the first to arrive at the scene of road crashes or other incidents, such as fires. These skills are invaluable, as they enable officers to provide immediate assistance themselves and guide others on how to appropriately help the victims.”
He also expressed gratitude to the U.S. Embassy for their support and acknowledged the Rwanda National Police's commitment, which led to the training of nine times more officers than initially planned.
Marissa J. Polnerow, Deputy Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Rwanda, remarked: “It’s astounding that you all have been able to train thousands of officers, and it’s such important life-saving work. I want to congratulate you on that work and going well above your goal.”
Trainings were conducted at RNP offices in Kigali and Bugesera, covering critical aspects such as victim assessment and techniques like “stop the bleed,” using various methods and tools including tourniquets, performing CPR, and addressing medical emergencies such as cardiac and respiratory issues, as well as drowning incidents.
This project reflects Healthy People Rwanda’s commitment to ensuring safe roads in Rwanda, where lives are preserved and injuries are minimized. Similar initiatives, such as the First Aid Initiative Rwanda (FAIR), have trained thousands of students and hundreds of teachers, and driving schools in first aid and road safety. Additionally, the Tuwurinde project promotes the use of high-quality helmets to reduce fatalities among users of powered two-wheelers mainly motorcycles.
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