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Bodaboda riders are everywhere in Nairobi. Many times we even consider them a nuisance on the roads when they break traffic rules and ride without caution.
Now consider an alternate scenario where these same bodaboda riders are the first responders who come to your rescue in the case of traffic accidents. Not just milling around the scene but offering first aid, doing CPR, bandaging wounds and even stopping bleeding as you wait for an ambulance!
Every year, some 280,000 serious injuries resulting from road accidents are recorded in Nairobi alone. Most of these result in deaths or permanent disabilities because help could not reach the victims in time.
MyDawa, the online pharmaceutical delivery service in Kenya, and the Kenya Red Cross Society are trying to change this and offer accident victims a better chance of survival.
They have teamed up to train MyDawa’s team of delivery riders on basic first aid which covers critical areas such as bleeding, fractures, CPR, burn treatment, spine injuries and preventing infections.
This will enable the bodaboda riders provide swift first aid assistance in the event of road accidents and other emergencies.
Zainab Mohammed, the Head of Medical Programs at the Kenya Red Cross Society, emphasises that the survival rate of accident victims hinges significantly on the speed at which they receive emergency care.
“Nairobi records over 280,000 serious injuries annually. Despite the critical need for rapid emergency response, the county has only around 400 ambulances, often resulting in wait times of over two hours for emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to reach the scene,” she says.
The “First Boda” initiative aims to bridge this gap by training boda boda riders, who are known for their ability to navigate traffic swiftly, in basic EMT skills. With over 200,000 delivery riders in Nairobi alone, these individuals are ideally positioned to provide immediate assistance at accident scenes.
“An ambulance will delay, so what we need is the support from these boda boda riders who are at the scene to start the initial care and increase chances of survival. It goes without saying, absolutely, this kind of training is going to save more lives,” adds Sammy Kamanu – an EMT & Training specialist with Kenya Redcross Society.
The trained riders will also help manage accident scenes to prevent victims from getting further injuries from poor handling by other well-meaning but untrained members of the public who attempt to help accident victims.
“Accidents on the road are a common occurrence, but often we find ourselves helpless, merely observing or bypassing the scene due to our lack of essential skills to provide help. This training is set to bring about a significant impact. As more riders become proficient in first aid, we can expect a rise in the number of lives saved that might otherwise have been lost,” says Evans Khabeko, a MyDawa delivery rider.
Bodaboda riders who complete the training offered by MyDawa and Kenya Red Cross Society are equipped with specially crafted first aid kits that fit neatly into their delivery containers, ensuring they are always prepared to provide essential care.
Beyond the two organizations currently piloting this, the “First Boda” initiative hopes to reach all boda boda rider groups and companies that operate large delivery fleets across the country to join in the training of their riders to enhance road safety across the country.
