By Staff Reporter
Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe – September 14, 2025 — The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) on Saturday joined the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in commemorating World First Aid Day with a colourful march and first aid competitions in Chinhoyi, under the theme “First Aid and Climate Change.”
The commemorations, held at Chinhoyi High School, drew hundreds of participants including students, corporate teams, volunteers and community members. A spirited march through the town centre set the tone for the day, attracting onlookers and raising awareness on the critical role of first aid in saving lives, particularly as climate-related disasters intensify.
Guest of Honour, Department of Civil Protection Chief Director Nathan Nkomo, commended ZRCS for investing in lifesaving skills at community level.
We applaud the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society for making first aid a priority and for supporting the government’s efforts in building disaster-resilient communities. As climate change continues to drive complex emergencies, the role of first aid in saving lives becomes even more critical,” Nkomo said.
The day’s highlight was a first aid competition involving companies and organisations who showcased practical responses to simulated emergencies. Participants demonstrated skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bleeding control, and handling victims of heat stress, reflecting the rising frequency of climate-linked health emergencies.
ZRCS Secretary General Elias Hwenga said the organisation remains committed to making first aid accessible to all Zimbabweans.
“We believe that everyone, everywhere should make first aid a priority. In an era where climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent, communities need to be better prepared to respond effectively,” Hwenga said.
He also warned the public against unscrupulous individuals and entities offering fake first aid training and certificates in the name of the Red Cross.
“We urge the public to be vigilant. Only trainings conducted or certified by the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society are authentic and recognized. Fake trainings not only put lives at risk but also undermine genuine efforts to build national capacity in disaster response,” he said.
The warning comes amid reports of bogus operators exploiting the growing demand for first aid skills, particularly in the workplace where certification is often required by law. ZRCS said it would continue to collaborate with authorities to clamp down on such practices.
First Aid Day commemorations were observed worldwide on Saturday, with this year’s theme spotlighting the intersection between lifesaving skills and the growing risks posed by climate change. Zimbabwe has in recent years experienced a string of climate-induced disasters, including Cyclone Idai in 2019, recurrent droughts, heatwaves, and floods that have left communities vulnerable.
ZRCS officials said investing in community-based training remains one of the most cost-effective ways of building resilience. Beyond training, the organisation runs programmes on health, water and sanitation, and disaster risk reduction, working with government, private sector, and humanitarian partners.
