The possibilities exist. The potential is there.
In most of Europe, we’ve come to expect that automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) are readily available in our communities and that an ambulance is just minutes away if needed. Healthcare should be as accessible to everyone as this – no one’s safety or well-being should depend on their location.
Over the past year, we have worked hard to achieve what we have accomplished so far, and we will continue working together with the local community to achieve even more.
November 2024, we started with our project: ”AED Aid Santo Antão”. We were able to donate two AEDs to the island together with Voja Travel. A third AED was donated to the island by the received donations during our graduation ceremony at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. These life-saving devices are crucial in cases of cardiac arrest. The devices were donated to the police station in Paúl, the police station in Ponta do Sol, and the hospital in Ribeira Grande.
Along with the donation of the AEDs, funded by Voja Travel, we also provide training on how to use the devices. To that end, we conducted several training sessions for the police in Ponta do Sol, the police in Paul, and the hospital in Ribeira Grande. This ensures that everyone with access to the machines is properly trained to use them and perform CPR.
A big thank you to Hippocampus for helping us order the third AED, partly funded by the money raised during our graduation ceremony and by Hippocampus itself. They also lent us their VR glasses, which gave the police a chance to experience what a real-life CPR situation feels like, adding a whole new dimension to the training.
We celebrated the handover of the machines at CasaMaracuja in Paúl. It was a special moment, showcasing how much we can achieve together. This April we will return to the island to donate two more AED’s donated by Luz da Lua, Walhalla Seahouse, Tienne del Mar and Kommil Foo. Also, we will give training in the area’s where these two AED’s will be located.
”Uniting for health, Empowered by Unity”. We remain committed and full of hope. Thank you—we are deeply grateful.
