Saving lives, shaping futures: How the First Aid Initiative Rwanda (FAIR) is tackling road safety and injury prevention

A student performs first aid on nose bleeding at Glory Academy

Every year, hundreds of lives are lost on Rwanda’s roads, and countless others suffer life-altering injuries. But these are not just numbers—they are dreams cut short, families left without providers, and children forced into orphanhood. Behind every statistic is a father, a mother, a young person with a bright future—someone whose absence leaves a void that can never be filled.

In a world where Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) are the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5-29, it's essential to take proactive steps to address this crisis. Every day, more than 3,400 people lose their lives on the world's roads, and in Rwanda alone, road crashes claim at least 600 lives annually. In response to this pressing issue, Healthy People Rwanda (HPR) in collaboration with the International Medical Cooperation Committee (IMCC) launched the First Aid Initiative Rwanda (FAIR) in June 2023, with the aim to reduce the morbidity and mortality caused by road traffic injuries through education and advocacy on road safety and first aid.

The rationale behind FAIR

The FAIR project was born out of the urgent need to combat the rising number of road traffic injuries. As one of the leading causes of death globally, RTIs affect millions of people every year. In Rwanda, this issue has become particularly alarming, with thousands of lives lost to preventable accidents. Recognizing the critical role of education in preventing these tragedies, FAIR aims to raise awareness and equip the youth with vital knowledge on road safety and first aid procedures.

Rwanda's young population is particularly vulnerable to road traffic accidents, and it is essential to engage them in discussions around road safety. By focusing on high school students, the initiative seeks to instill a sense of responsibility and preparedness among future generations, who will be the ones driving change in road safety practices.

Key objectives of the FAIR project

The FAIR project is built on three main objectives:

1. Raising awareness: The initiative works to raise awareness on road safety and first aid procedures in 30 high schools across Kigali. By targeting students, the project ensures that the next generation is well-equipped with knowledge to reduce accidents and save lives.

2. Identifying gaps in road traffic laws: FAIR also aims to identify existing gaps in Rwanda’s road traffic laws and advocate for the inclusion of road safety and first aid education in the national high school curriculum. This would ensure that road safety education becomes an integral part of the national education system.

3. Advocating for policy change: The project also focuses on advocating for policy changes at the national level, aiming to make road safety a priority in Rwanda's legal framework and school curricula.

   
   

Achievements of the FAIR project

Since its launch, the FAIR project has made tremendous strides in achieving its objectives. The initiative has successfully trained over 1,663 students, surpassing its initial target of 1,500 students. These students have received comprehensive training on vital topics such as road safety and first aid, empowering them with life-saving knowledge that can be used to respond effectively to emergencies on the road and beyond.

The trained students have shared their skills with peers through campaigns conducted in 28 schools across Kigali, including Riviera High School, Green Hills Academy, Groupe Scolaire Gahanga, College Saint Andre, King David Academy, Lycée Notre Dame de Cîteaux, and Saint Joseph Integrated Technical School, among others. These awareness campaigns have thus far reached 19,931 students. 

To ensure the sustainability and continuity of this knowledge, at least two teachers from each school were also trained, as students come and go. Additionally, the campaign reached over 60,000 people through posts on our social media platforms namely Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

A momentous advocacy meeting

Representatives of government institutions, schools and students during a recent advocacy meeting

In addition to the educational aspect, the FAIR initiative has actively engaged government institutions and stakeholders through advocacy meetings aimed at scaling up the impact of the project. A recent meeting brought together representatives from key institutions such as the Rwanda National Police, Rwanda Biomedical Center, Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA), Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority, the City of Kigali and school leaders. These discussions were pivotal in strengthening the partnership between the government, civil society, and educational institutions to advance the cause of road safety.

The meeting provided a platform for FAIR’s achievements to be highlighted and for critical conversations to take place about how to scale up the initiative. Dr. Innocent Nzeyimana, the President of HPR, shared the motivation behind the creation of the project. He explained that as medical professionals, he and his colleagues were deeply moved by the alarming numbers of road traffic injuries they encountered in hospital emergencies. This experience led them to launch the FAIR project, with the hope of reducing these injuries by providing communities with the tools to prevent accidents and respond appropriately when they occur.

The way forward

While FAIR has achieved significant success, the project’s mission is far from complete. The need for road safety education and first aid knowledge continues to grow, and the project aims to expand its reach to even more students in Kigali and beyond. Moreover, efforts are underway to push for the inclusion of road safety education and first aid as a formal part of Rwanda's national curriculum. This policy change would ensure that all Rwandan students receive this critical training, empowering them to make their communities safer and healthier.

The First Aid Initiative Rwanda (FAIR) is an inspiring example of how education and advocacy can help tackle a major public health issue. Through training, awareness campaigns, and policy advocacy, FAIR is making significant progress toward reducing road traffic injuries and saving lives. By equipping Rwanda’s youth with the knowledge and skills to respond to emergencies, FAIR is fostering a culture of road safety that will have lasting benefits for the country’s future.