AN ARGYLL charity has grown more than a little since being set up seven years ago to supply first aid training and supplies to schools in Gambia.
From a standing start in September 2009, First Aid 4 Gambia now covers 70 schools with a total of 20,000 children enrolled.
The Inveraray-based charity runs training courses for 10 people at each school, which normally includes members of the local community in addition to school staff. In many instances the school acts as a first aid post for the community as well as the school children. In rural areas the nearest medical facility might be 20 to 30 miles away, often to be covered on foot.
Bill Nelson, a founder member of First Aid 4 Gambia, said: ‘We have also been working with two vocational training centres teaching final-year students basic first aid skills, which is the equivalent of an emergency first aid at work course in the UK.
‘In the past 12 months, 105 students have qualified in their course and also a first aid at work qualification.