Address by Hon Kwamena Bartels , MP, Minister for the Interior at Press Conference to Launch the  Programme of Activities to Mark World Civil Defence Day – 2008

Hon Chairman

Hon Ministers of State

Acting National Coordinator of NADMO

Distinguished Invited Dignitaries

Members of the Media

Ladies and Gentlemen

Tomorrow, 1st March, Ghana will join the rest of the International Community to celebrate this year’s World Civil Defence day under the auspices of the Geneva-based International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO).

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Civil Defence and the Basic First Aid Techniques” which seeks to arouse public awareness on the need for basic first aid skills at all levels of society to save life in times of disasters and other emergencies.

The ICDO, by a resolution of its 9th General Assembly in Geneva designated 1st March of every year for the celebration of the World Civil Defence Day, aimed at creating public awareness on civil defence  services tasks, that is safeguarding life, property and the environment from natural and man- made disasters.

The ICDO co-ordinates the operations of the national structures established by the various states in order to ensure maximum benefits of international collaboration and co-operation.
 

As a moral and civic duty, it is incumbent on all governments as well as both private and public institutions to ensure that they create a safe and secure work and residential environment for their citizens and employees respectively.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) law on safety at workplaces makes it mandatory for all employers to protect workers against work-related sickness, disease and injury.  The primary goal of this concept is to promote opportunities for men and women to obtain decent and productive working conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity.

Experience has shown that in a secure and safe work environment, morale and productivity are of higher standards.  So it is in all situations, be it at home, school or any other place.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the objective of this year’s celebration theme is to encourage member states to establish and implement nationwide educational programmes on basic first aid techniques.

First aid is an integral part of disaster management as its timely and proper application saves lives in the event of a disaster.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is common knowledge, that in most disasters, for example, motor, domestic and industrial accidents, a lot of lives could have been saved through the use of proper first aid techniques.  Unfortunately, due to lack of life-saving skills, in most cases, people who happen to be at accident scenes become so confused that their actions rather worsen the conditions of the victims.

It is for this reason that it is mandatory for all commercial vehicles to be equipped with first aid kit.    Ironically, most of the first aid boxes that we see in those vehicles are just empty boxes marked with the Red Cross sign.

As we celebrate this year’s World Civil Defence Day, I call on all government agencies and private organisations to inculcate the culture of life-saving awareness in their staff by equipping them with basic first aid knowledge.

Once First Aid is part of school curriculum in this country, I will entreat all schools to take it serious.   May I take this opportunity to also remind the motor and traffic law enforcement agencies, especially the Police, to ensure that the law on first aid kit in motor vehicles is strictly enforced to save lives in times of any emergencies.

Finally, let me remind all Ghanaians that first aid as part of emergency management is the responsibility of every individual.  In the event of an injury, we should be able to deliver the appropriate first aid to reduce pain and also safe lives before seeking medical attention.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, on this note, I have the singular honour to declare the World Civil Defence Day - 2008 duly launched.

Posted: 29/02/08 

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