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IOHSAD conducts First-Aid Training to celebrate Mother's Day

Submitted by IOHSAD on Sat, 05/10/2008 - 7:57pm
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Emma Celada, IOHSAD Training Officer, demonstrating how to get a pulse

In tune with Mother's Day celebration in the Philippines, the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (IOHSAD) trained 30 women workers, on First-Aid last Saturday, May 10, 2008 at the Smokey Mountain 2 dumpsite in Vitas, Tondo, Manila. Most of the participants were mothers and wastepicking their main livelihood.

According to Emma Celada, Training Officer of IOHSAD, the environment around a garbage dump site poses a multitude of hazards. “Working as wastepicker in a garbage dump poses great risks, which includes exposure to toxic materials found in household, commercial and industrial wastes, not to mention hospital wastes disposed at the dump site. With such a dangerous working environment, the necessity for training on First-Aid is greatly highlighted.”

The medical surveillance done by the local organization at the Smokey Mountain 2, which has around 1,000 families living on waste picking, showed that diarrhea due to food poisoning, respiratory infections and cuts and bruises were the top three health problems. “Since those problems were on the top of the lists, we gave emphasis on basic food hygiene and how to handle dehydration, especially in young children. We also encourage most of the mothers to have regular check-up for tuberculosis and minimize exposure to toxic fumes created by burning rubber and plastic. Teaching how to clean a wound and avoidance of infection were underscored,” said Celada.

Celada stressed that aside from the First Aid Training, IOHSAD also aims to establish a Health and Safety Committee (HSC) among the women workers in the area. "We are expecting a 4-member HSC to be formed in the coming weeks. The HSC members will be given advance training on Occupational Health and Safety, including advance techiniques on First Aid."

The activity is part of IOHSAD's effort to promote Occupational Health and Safety among informal workers. The training was supported by the Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad (APHEDA).

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