BoNgo Ya leO

Red Cross Tanzania in collaboration with the Automobile Association of Tanzania (AAT) yesterday launched the World First Aid Day.


The event is marked on September 13 every year but was pushed back this year to December to iron out the Word Red Cross Federation’s new cooperation pact with the Federation of International Automobiles, (FIA).

Held yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the event was graced by the National Traffic Police Commander Mohamed Mpinga and involved among other activities, the Tanzania Red Cross Society with AAT officials and Tanzania Traffic Police HQ, Education Unit demonstrating first aid skills at the main bus station in Dar es Salaam.

Represented by the national dissemination officer Stella Marealle, Red Cross Tanzania announced its cooperation with AAT to save lives of casualties particularly those resulting from the ever increasing motor crashes.

Marealle explained that the World First Aid Day is marked on September 13 every year but was pushed back to December as a result of the Word Red Cross Federation’s new cooperation pact with the Federation of International Automobiles, (FIA).

Marealle said on May 8th 2014 the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile (FIA) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cross Crescent (IFRC) signed a memorandum of understanding to reduce road injuries and fatalities.

In supporting this initiative and in light of commemorating the World First Aid Day,  AAT  in collaboration with FIA and Tanzania Red Cross Society have committed to improve First Aid awareness among the public and motorists.

The new partnership has designed special flyers (Community-Based Fist Aid) to create awareness in Kiswahili to be distributed in high traffic flow areas, schools, bus stations, transport  companies, taxi stands, Boda Boda Associations and to boys and girl scout groups.

Tanzania Traffic Police HQ will assist to distribute the flyers at the Kibaha weight bridge to long haulage trucks and buses enroute to Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi and Congo.

Notably, more than 4,000 trucks pass the weight bridge on a daily basis.

Similalry,  FIA / FIA Institute have organised a ‘go-carting seminar’ for 50 club officials from the AAT affiliated clubs in Tanga Region that will be held this week in the region where Red Cross  will demonstrate first aid skills and flyers will be distributed at taxi and bus stands among other key places.

It is envisioned that the new agreement between AAT and Red Cross Tanzania will accelerate safety enhancement measures and reduce motor accidents fatality across the nation.

 The two bodies (Red Cross and AAT) have started working together through distribution of paper leaflets that carry messages on how best to react during motor accidents. 

 Besides the launch, FIA joins Red Cross and the rest of the world in commemorating to mark the world day Remembrance of Traffic victims.

The third Sunday of November each year is dedicated to remember many millions killed and injured on the worlds roads. This year, it is being dedicated to raising awareness on the critical role speeding plays in escalating road accidents.

Meanwhile, the AAT has also used the occasion to acknowledge journalists who have been working to publicise awareness of road safety measures in the country for the year.

The journalists who were recognised were Samuel Kamndaya  and Miguel Suleiman of Mwananchi Communications Ltd,  Mohamed Ugasa of the Guardian Ltd, Figinia Swai of ITV and Mbonile Burton of the Tanzania Standard Newspapers.
 

Special buses to operate on Dar es Salaam’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes along the Morogoro road are scheduled to start operating come March next year as the first phase ahead of planned official commencement in mid 2016.


Speaking yesterday in Dar es Salaam during the annual conference for commuter buses operators and the Dar es salaam Regional Commissioner, Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) Chief Executive, Asteria Mlambo said they are now installing traffic lights along the route being the final stage.

She said the BRT project which covers a distance of 15.8km on Morogoro Road, from Kimara to Kivukoni will ease traffic movement in the city.

 “One bus will be carrying between 140 and 150 passengers, this means one bus will replace at least five commuter vans,” Mlambo said.

She added the project will also offer both formal and informal employment to drivers and other attendants including mechanics.

On his part, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Said Meck  Sadick promised that the government will ensure that local companies, specifically commuter bus operators, are given tenders to operate the project and called upon commuter bus operators to form a joint firm to win the project tender.

 “Now that the first phase of the DART project is in the final stages, it will be better if local investors operate it so as to increase the national income as well as improving the lives of Tanzanians,” he said.

The Dar es Salaam Commuter Buses Owners Association (DARCOBOA) Chairman, Sabri Mabruk, commended DART for the ongoing Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (DART) project.

He said if given the chance to operate the project, they will benefit from the business citing that the system is now computerized and hence no funds will be embezzled.

The chairman commended Usafiri Dar es Salaam’s (UDA) decision to compensate all commuter buses operating along Morogoro road.

He said DARCOBOA has agreed to join UDA to operate the project as local players and went on to urge commuter bus owners to make use of the compensation they received to buy shares in the BRT.