As part of the Integrated Community Based Risk Reduction (ICBRR) program, village volunteers (VOLCOM) in Manelobas, Ainaro Municipality, participated in training on Community Based Health and First Aid (SKBPS). The purpose of the program was to ensure that community volunteers have the capacity and confidence needed to conduct door-to-door health education, enabling them to provide accurate and practical health information directly from household to community.
Juvenal Bareto da Costa, WASH Manager for the ICBRR program, explained, “This training helps Suku volunteers become messengers to provide basic health information and increase knowledge of practices, including health hygiene, in their Suku.”
Volunteers practiced explaining dengue and ISPA prevention to the community, building trust so that health messages can be applied directly to the communities. The volunteers also practice digging garbage pits in strategic areas distanced from water tanks (built by CVTL) in order to help the community reduce environmental risk.
Lusinda Mendonça da Costa, a volunteer in Manelobas sub-village, shared, “I am happy because I have received training on Community Based Health and First Aid (SKBPS), including topics on ISPA diseases and First Aid. During the three-day training, we not only received materials but also practiced in the community what we have learned in this training, increasing health knowledge to families in my village and supporting them when they face health risks. It’s not just about acquiring new knowledge but also about learning how to turn that knowledge into action.
By practicing directly in the community, we volunteers strengthen our ability to explain health information clearly, ensuring that families understand how to prevent diseases such as dengue and ISPA and how to provide basic first aid when needed.
Through my dedication, I help my community become healthier, safer, and more resilient.”
