Dubai: A volunteer team made of people with special needs has been formed to provide ambulance services as part of a new programme launched by the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS).
The 10-member team from the Dubai Club for People of Determination will undergo intensive emergency training to be able to respond to emergency situations and serve the wider community, an official told Gulf News.
Eisa Al Gaffari, Director of the Institutional Support Department (DCAS), said that the programme aims to empower and integrate people with special needs by giving them an opportunity to gain more skills and be involved in serving in the emergency field.
“We have seen great interest from people of determination in volunteering and serving in this noble profession, so we launched this programme to activate their role in society and ensure they are also included in the field of emergency,” he said. “The team will go through a rehabilitation and training programme, which will fully train them to break into the field and be able to save the lives of patients.”
He added that the doors will be open for more people of determination to volunteer and take part in the programme.
Al Gaffari explained that the volunteers would have to be chosen based on a specific criteria and will have to meet certain qualifications. “The volunteers had to have some background in first-aid. We also look at their type of disability and ensure it doesn’t affect their ability to administer to others.
“We have a goal to increase the number of volunteers by Expo2020 and to have at least 1,500 volunteers prepared and trained in providing ambulance services so we can reduce response time. This is our first step in attracting people of determination, and we will soon open the doors for more to volunteer.”
Al Gaffari said the current volunteers will be called in to serve at different events organised throughout the year, pointing out that these volunteers will help encourage more people of determination to step up and join the programme.
