Burkina Faso: An innovative first aid application launched by the Burkinabe Red Cross Association and the Red Cross of Belgium-Flanders
On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Burkina Faso, the Burkinabe Red Cross, in partnership with the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, officially launched the application First Aid Blended Learning (FABL), known in French as Premiers Secours en Apprentissage Mixte (PSAM). This initiative aims to strengthen the population’s first aid skills by making learning more accessible, modern, and adapted to local realities.
The First Aid Blended Learning (FABL) application is designed to improve and facilitate the learning of life-saving actions.
According to Ms. Elsa Kuntziger, country representative of the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, the goal is to make first aid training more accessible and easier to learn.
She added that the idea was to develop an app specifically for the African continent. As such, in addition to Burkina Faso, the application will also be rolled out in other countries, including Burundi and Uganda. She explained, “The choice of Burkina Faso is based on the vast network of Burkinabe Red Cross volunteers, present in all 13 regions and 45 provinces. We are very confident that with the expertise of the Burkinabe Red Cross, this tool will be helpful; it’s a small contribution we are making.”
Mr. Daouda Sawadogo, First Aid Project Manager at the Burkinabe Red Cross, explained that FABL is an offline application, usable in emergency situations and offering flexible learning. He emphasized that it is a free app containing comprehensive information and detailed instructions on how to respond to various emergencies. “The app allows users to have all first aid content at their fingertips. Since mobile phones have become our everyday companions, why not use them to provide something that could help in an emergency? It also allows people to learn at their own pace and without pressure the basic first aid techniques,” he said.
