The leadership of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) has formally presented the report on the Community Medical First Responder (CMFR) training programme to the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), marking another significant step in strengthening community-level emergency response across the country.
The delegation from NAS was warmly received by the Chief Executive Officer of YEA, Mr. Malik Basintale, who reaffirmed the importance of the CMFR initiative and the critical role of equipping community members with basic emergency response skills.
According to him, empowering individuals at the community level with lifesaving skills helps reduce avoidable deaths, particularly in situations where immediate professional medical care may not be readily available. He commended NAS for embracing the concept and successfully collaborating with YEA to implement the programme.
During the meeting, the YEA CEO also unveiled the medical kits that will be used by the trained Community Medical First Responders in carrying out their duties.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of NAS, Dr. George Kojo Owusu, expressed appreciation to YEA for the warm reception and the strong partnership that has made the programme possible.
He explained that emergency medical care operates at three key levels: the community level, the transit level, and the health facility level. However, he noted that there had long been a gap at the community level. The training of over 6,000 youth under the CMFR programme, he said, is helping to bridge that gap by ensuring that basic lifesaving interventions can begin even before professional responders arrive.
As part of the engagement, the Deputy Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPME) at NAS, Dr. Simon Nyaaba, delivered a detailed PowerPoint presentation highlighting the scope, impact, and outcomes of the training programme.
The NAS CEO subsequently presented the official programme report to YEA, along with the CMFR training manual, which will serve as a guide for the continued development and effectiveness of the initiative.
The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between NAS and YEA in advancing community-based emergency care and improving the nation’s overall emergency response system.
