A national programme to train 28,000 young people in First Aid and Basic Life Support (BLS) was launched on July 30 at the National Youth Services Council (NYSC) premises in Maharagama under the patronage of Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The initiative, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, the National Youth Services Council and UNICEF Sri Lanka, aims to strengthen community health and emergency preparedness by making first aid a basic life skill.
Launched under the theme "At Least Two Trained Youth First Responders for Every Grama Niladhari Division," the programme seeks to establish a network of trained first responders covering all 14,000 Grama Niladhari divisions across the country.
Participants will receive both theoretical and practical training on first aid and BLS, enabling them to respond effectively to road accidents, natural disasters and other medical emergencies, while ensuring the safe transfer of victims to hospitals.
During the launch, the "First Aid and Basic Life Support" handbook was officially introduced, and the first training session commenced with 30 youth representatives from the Western and Southern Provinces. Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive nationally recognized certificates and first aid kits.
