"We are now capable of saving lives." It is with emotion and pride that Vital Ubemu, a young resident of Bunia city in Ituri, expresses himself at the end of a two-and-a-half-month first aid training, provided at the Ndoromo military camp by the Bangladeshi contingent of MONUSCO.

Thirty young people, including thirteen girls, from diIerent neighborhoods of the city, received their first aid certificates Wednesday, May 7 during the closing ceremony of this training, organized in partnership with the Bunia General Hospital.

Vital Skills in a High-Risk Context

In a province still plagued by armed violence and frequent health emergencies, these young first responders are now ready to intervene in their communities to provide first aid before professionals intervene at the hospital. "There are often cases of accidents, gunshot wounds or machete injuries in our province. Thanks to this training, we now know how to stop bleeding or stabilize a victim's condition. We are ready to act," explains Vital Ubemu.

The training took place, initially, at the MONUSCO medical center and then at the Bunia General Hospital, where the young people were supervised by the medical team of the Bangladeshi contingent and local health professionals. Ester Masudi explains the new skills she acquired through this training: "Before, I would never have dared to intervene when someone was injured. Today, I know how to keep calm and react eIectively to relieve the victim while waiting for a medical team to arrive."

During the closing ceremony, each participant received a first aid kit containing a stethoscope, a blood pressure monitor, scissors, gauze pads and other basic tools necessary for first aid.

A Concrete Response to a Real Need

For Dr. John Katabuka, medical director of Bunia General Hospital, this initiative is a concrete response to a shortage of volunteer first responders, exacerbated by insecurity in the region. "One of our fundamental missions is to ensure the accessibility of care to the entire population, especially the most vulnerable. Training young people in first aid helps our communities to be better prepared and able to act from the critical first minutes," explains the doctor.

In addition to this medical training campaign, the Bangladeshi contingent also gifted supplies of various medicines to the Bunia General Hospital, to support access to basic care for the most vulnerable.

The Bangladeshi contingent conducts various civil-military activities throughout Ituri province. Since its deployment in 2024, it has organized 14 technical and professional training sessions in areas such as mechanics, agriculture, computing and English, involving nearly 400 young people from Bunia.

These initiatives oIer healthy alternatives and income prospects for young people, thus reducing their vulnerability to violent rhetoric or armed groups. The first aid training is part of this dynamic, with an emphasis on rapid response to health emergencies.