By Eric Ssennuni,
World Trauma Day today is a stark reminder of the critical role lay first responders play in saving the lives of trauma victims. Trauma is a global killer, claiming more than five million lives annually, a figure higher than the combined deaths from HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and COVID-19. Most of these deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, where emergency response systems are weak. In Uganda, trauma ranks among the top seven causes of death, with road accidents being the primary culprit.
While Uganda has made strides in developing its emergency medical services (EMS), pre-hospital care remains underdeveloped. And yet, the solution might be right before us-lay first responder training programs. These programs empower non-medical (lay) community members like boda-boda riders, taxi drivers, and police officers to deliver basic life-saving first aid at accident scenes. They often arrive first at the scene and can, therefore (if well trained) recognize and avert life-threatening conditions, such as heavy bleeding, before professional help arrives or the victim is transported to health facility.
Despite Uganda’s National EMS Strategic Plan aiming for a 50% increase in on-scene emergency care by 2025, there’s been little progress. Moreover, lay first responder programs haven’t been maximized. Yet these programs have been demonstrated as feasible, cost-effective, and easily scalable, able to improve trauma care outcomes. This emphasizes that this approach is far more affordable and sustainable than establishing a fully-fledged EMS system in the short term.
Why Today Matters? World Trauma Day should serve as a call to action for Uganda to fully integrate lay first responders into its trauma care strategy. The government must ramp up training for these community members in partnership with NGOs and private organizations. Public awareness campaigns could also help local communities understand the importance of first aid. With proper support, lay first responders can be Uganda’s unsung heroes, saving countless lives and reducing trauma-related disability and or deaths.
The Time for Action is Now! We cannot afford to overlook this lifesaving potential. Lay first responders training programs are crucial to tackling the trauma crisis. The government must act now to expand these programs nationwide, ensuring that Ugandans everywhere have access to immediate, life-saving care when in need.
The writer is a MGHD Candidate (UGHE), Primary Trauma Care (PTC) Instructor
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