In 2018, a team of six students supported by Tanzanian grassroots partners ventured to the isolated Maasai Villages of the Longido District in Tanzania. The primary observations during this exploratory session exposed the realities of limited education and resources surrounding First-Aid accessibility.

“The moment we arrived in Longido we happened upon a funeral for a young boy that suffered from first-degree burns that had become infected. I remember feeling helpless running towards the village with my travel first-aid kit, stopping dead in my footsteps as I saw the mother weep during the burial.” - 2018 PK Volunteer

Our organization acknowledged the geographical limitations to immediate urgent care services. The closet pharmacy is known as The Engikaret Dispensary, which is a government run healthcare facility in Longido, where individuals can receive treatment for anything from a flu to obtaining PreP medication and anything in between. Young children, elderly individuals and pregnant women all receive treatment for free which is a sign for a promising future regarding rural healthcare in Tanzania.

Poor transportation and inaccessibility can exacerbate even the slightest of ailments, and that is why we as an organization are working with Longido’s Massai communities to improve the basic first aid skills of the population so that they can treat small wounds, and basic ailments within their villages, where possible.

During our 2018 First-Aid Seminars, First-Aid trained Project Kilimanjaro volunteers worked with over 30 Maasai bomas on a wide array of first aid responses, including assessing emergency situations and carrying out appropriate action, as well as recognizing and giving first aid to major illnesses. In the spirit of sustainable development and focused on encouraging female-ownership in healthcare, we helped identify key female representatives from each village to continue to scale first-aid training within the growing population. This success couldn’t have been possible without the support of the Longido Maasai community and our partners at Maisha Arts Development.

As our organization continues to grow, we hope to broaden our education modules and impact in the face of COVID-19 to incorporate the following training with the assistance of the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare:

• Carry out artificial ventilation and chest compressions.

• Clear obstructed airway.

• Treat minor cuts and wounds to prevent further infection.

• Control severe bleeding.

• Understand the requirements of a first aid kit

• Deal with burns and scalds.

• Recognize and split fractures.

• Carry out the duties of a First Aider in a safe and approved manner, with no risk to self or third party.