In response to Tonga's vulnerability to natural hazards such as cyclones, earthquakes, and tsunamis, the National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) has implemented a Senior First Aid Training programme aimed at improving emergency preparedness. Supported by the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific (BSRP II) project, the training equips participants with the skills to provide immediate medical assistance, enhances their ability to assess situations quickly, and promotes a culture of safety within communities.
Working in partnership with the Tonga Red Cross Society, the NDRMO organised a two-day training session for staff, focusing on essential emergency response capabilities. The programme covered basic first aid skills, including CPR, wound treatment, fracture management, and handling common injuries. Additionally, participants learned appropriate responses to various emergency scenarios such as natural disasters, accidents, and medical emergencies.
The training emphasised community preparedness and the role of individuals in ensuring community safety and well-being. Sessions included both theoretical and practical components to ensure participants could apply their knowledge in real-life situations.
“For NDRMO staff, this training was part of their ongoing preparedness strategy, ensuring their team is well-equipped with the critical skills, knowledge, and confidence to respond effectively in emergency situations and during field deployments," said NDRMO Assistant Secretary (AS) – Geospatial Officer Ofa Masiwawa.
As the primary coordinating body during disasters, strengthening NDRMO's capabilities directly enhanced Tonga's overall resilience and emergency response capacity.
The initiative provided valuable insights that will inform future work: the importance of tailoring training to specific community contexts, the necessity of regular refresher courses to maintain skill proficiency, and the value of fostering collaborative partnerships between regional organisations, local stakeholders, and international partners.
With continued support from the BSRP II project, the NDRMO plans to expand the programme's reach across more Tongan communities, develop advanced training modules for specialised emergency responses, and strengthen community networks to improve coordination during disasters.
This initiative is supported by the Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific (BSRP II) project, funded by the European Union in collaboration with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States. The project works across 15 Pacific Island countries to strengthen disaster resilience and climate adaptation efforts throughout the region, including: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
