Netcare has implemented trauma injury prevention (TIP) training workshops within communities where Qhubeka distributes bicycles in partnership with World Vision.
Qhubeka is registered non-profit organisation that uses bicycles to help people and communities move forward. To achieve sustainable success in using bicycles to improve people’s lives, the organisation believes it’s important to teach bicycle beneficiaries how to use their bicycles safely. Every Qhubeka beneficiary receives basic bicycle safety and maintenance training before receiving a bicycle.
Now, learners and community representatives who are part of Qhubeka’s educational programmes, which are implemented in partnership with World Vision, are also able to take part in trauma injury prevention workshops facilitated by Netcare.
By offering trauma injury prevention training workshops to Qhubeka bicycle recipients, Netcare aims to mitigate the risk of trauma injuries that might be induced by incorrect use of the bicycle and/or accidents.
Netcare is excited to be assisting Qhubeka in teaching young adults safe habits on and around roads. Trauma coordinators Amanda Klette and Rene Grobler, respectively from Netcare Union and Netcare Milpark hospitals’ trauma units, have put together a training programme and book for young adults called, “I am Important”. It teaches not only road safety but also safety around water, fires and gates. They have also put together a short first aid course to teach them how to treat minor ailments and injuries.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Netcare to help our beneficiaries be safe on their bicycles, and to understand what to do in the case of an accident or injury,” says Qhubeka executive director, Sarah Phaweni. “Netcare is facilitating these workshops to promote road safety in both our rural and urban programmes among high school learners and community representatives, who will then be able to share their new knowledge on the basics of first aid.”
The six-hour workshops are offered to a group of 20 learners at a time and include training on road safety, helmet safety and prevention of head injuries, as well as gate safety, drowning prevention, burns prevention and general first aid.
The first two sets of workshops took place in August 2016 in Bergville (KZN) and Soweto (Gauteng), and two further workshops took place in September in Giyani and Thusalushaka in Limpopo province.
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Issued by: Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of Netcare
Contact: Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, Meggan Saville or Pieter Rossouw
Telephone: (011) 469 3016
Email: martina@mnapr.co.za, graeme@mnapr.co.za, meggan@mnapr.co.za or pieter@mnapr.co.za