Kwara Deaf Community Receives First Aid Training Through Project ACT

Members of the deaf community in Kwara State have received practical first aid training under Project ACT, an initiative aimed at promoting inclusive access to emergency response skills and improving community resilience.

The training brought together deaf participants from different parts of the state and focused on equipping them with life-saving knowledge to respond effectively to common medical emergencies before professional healthcare providers arrive.

Facilitators said the programme was designed to bridge existing gaps in emergency preparedness among persons with disabilities by ensuring that training materials and demonstrations were delivered in an accessible format, including the use of sign language interpreters and visual learning aids.

According to the organisers, participants were introduced to basic first aid techniques such as managing bleeding, treating burns, responding to fractures, handling choking incidents, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) demonstrations and providing initial care for unconscious victims.

They noted that empowering members of the deaf community with first aid skills would not only improve their personal safety but also enable them to assist family members, neighbours and colleagues during emergencies.

Speaking during the training, a representative of Project ACT said the initiative seeks to promote inclusive health education by ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind in programmes that enhance public safety and emergency response.

“Everyone deserves access to life-saving knowledge regardless of disability. By providing first aid training in an inclusive environment, we are helping participants build confidence and become valuable first responders within their communities,” the representative said.

Participants expressed appreciation for the programme, describing it as an opportunity to acquire practical skills that are rarely made accessible to the deaf community. They said the training improved their understanding of emergency situations and how to respond before medical personnel arrive.

Some participants called for similar programmes to be extended to other local government areas in Kwara State, noting that wider access to first aid education would strengthen community preparedness and reduce preventable injuries and deaths.

Health professionals at the event encouraged participants to continue practising the skills learned and to share the knowledge with other members of the deaf community. They also emphasised the importance of seeking professional medical attention after administering first aid, noting that initial care is intended to stabilise victims rather than replace hospital treatment.

Stakeholders commended Project ACT for promoting disability inclusion in public health education and urged government agencies, development partners and civil society organisations to support similar initiatives across the country.

They maintained that expanding access to first aid training for persons with disabilities would contribute to more inclusive communities, improve emergency response outcomes and reinforce the principle that life-saving knowledge should be accessible to everyone.