World First Aid Day was observed on 12 September 2026, highlighting its importance in assisting victims. More and more young people in the region are being drawn to the sector.
World First Aid Day, celebrated on 12 August, provided an opportunity to highlight the vital importance of simple and swift actions. In the Adamaoua region, whilst the date did not give rise to any major public events organized by the Red Cross, it did, however, highlight an encouraging trend: the growing interest among young people and women in first aid training. According to the departmental committee of the Cameroonian Red Cross in Vina, Ngaoundéré, increasing numbers of young people and women are taking an interest in this field, to the extent that they are taking part in various training courses. According to Yaya Moussa, Secretary-General of the Vina departmental committee, by 2025 the committee will be registering more women than men at each session, as well as an increasing number of young people. In Meiganga in Mbéré, an area hosting Central African refugees, young first-aiders are present at all public events. In this part of the region, the departmental committee hopes to have one first-aider in every family. Meanwhile, in the town’s schools, many young people are throwing themselves wholeheartedly into this humanitarian activity.
Across the region’s five departments, volunteer first-aiders are now a regular sight at public events, fairs and sporting gatherings. Their role is simple yet crucial: to administer first aid to stabilize patients and minimize risks before medical teams arrive. Observers note that this presence not only helps to save lives, but also reassures the public and strengthens confidence in local emergency services.
On the ground, commitment remains as strong as ever. Every year, hundreds of people attend training sessions run by humanitarian organizations, local associations and healthcare organizations. These training courses cover basic first aid, managing bleeding, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), immobilizing fractures, treating burns and wounds, and procedures for keeping the victim safe whilst awaiting formal emergency services.
The increase in the number of women and young people among first aides is particularly striking. Several trainers interviewed explained that these groups are motivated by a desire to get involved in their communities and by the prospect of acquiring skills that are useful in everyday life. For women, the training is seen as a way of improving their families’ safety and playing an active role in building community resilience. This is the case, for example, at Ngaoundéré Regional Hospital, where Ms Hadjaratou Aswadou is held up as a prime example. Trained by the Red Cross, she is now head of the stretcher-bearers in the A&E and admissions departments of this healthcare facility, one of the busiest in the region.
At a time when natural disasters, falls and other accidents on public roads can occur at any moment, training instructors emphasize that knowing and being able to carry out first aid procedures is extremely important. And the World First Aid Day, dedicated to this selfless service, can help prevent the worst from happening to victims.
