St. John Ambulance, Ghana: Celebrating 87 years of lifesaving excellence. A legacy of first aid and compassion
24th June, 2024
Today, 24th June 2024, St. John Ambulance celebrates its 87th birthday Anniversary operating in Ghana which mark a major milestone in history. The agency was founded on a simple yet powerful principle that everyone deserve access to lifesaving care in their moment of need.

St John Ambulance, Ghana is a dedicated First Aid organization committed to promoting health and well-being across Ghana. It is part of the Order of St John which is a major international charitable organisation located in forty-two (42) countries around the world. Its main focus is to alleviate human suffering through the training and provision of First Aid services, event cover, disaster management preparedness, emergency ambulance services, community health care and youth development. St John Ambulance Ghana was established with a Governing Council which was established by an Act of Parliament: Act 57of 1959. It has since existed and working as a health service delivery organisation sub-vented under the Ministry of Health providing mainly First Aid training and provision of services at workplaces, public gatherings and at community level. The staff who operate and work in the regions across the country are supported by numerous volunteers who assist in their operations.

In line with the goal of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable, St. John Ambulance Ghana supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the WHO by empowering the communities through education in First Aid and Health promotion to empower the individual. This helps to reduce the rate of morbidity and mortality to improve health outcomes worldwide. Under the Ministry of Health (MOH) Which seeks to improve the health status of all individuals living in the country through effective and efficient policy formulation, resource mobilization, monitoring and regulation of health care delivery, St John ambulance supplements the healthcare services by bridging the gaps in emergency care and reinforcing MOH’s healthcare delivery objective. This helps to build community resilience and empower positive response to health crises. By working together with the WHO, MOH and St. John Ambulance, Ghana achieves the common goals to improve the overall health and well-being of the community.

For the past 87 years in operation, St. John Ambulance, Ghana have been providing services such as certified First Aid trainings in
  • First Aid at Work
  • Basic Emergency First Aid
  • Lifesaver International First Aid
  • Advanced First Aid
  • Aviation First Aid
  • Ambulance Aid and others
Annually, St. John Ambulance averagely trains over one thousand two hundred (1200) certified First Aid trainees across the country. This gives an estimated number of twelve thousand (12,000) trainees for the past ten (10) years to their credit. The agency also engages in extensive Health Education on both Radio and Television for both the rural and urban areas in different local languages which has reached over one million (1,000,000) viewers and listeners annually.

Its voluntary department manages a wide range of well trained and equipped volunteers across the country who provide First Aid volunteerism like community health outreach, disaster response, First Aid stadium cover and many others with vital support and care to individuals in need and also contribute to the betterment of community health and well-being. They also cover Ambulance aid and its related services.

The activities of St. John also encompass around the Youth & Development where the agency encourages and enrol young people to get involved in First Aid training and volunteerism. They do this to empower them to take on leadership roles and get actively involved in organizing community events and outreach programs to promote health and safety among the youth. They are also actively involved in the distribution of car kit, standard and industrial First Aid boxes across the country.

The 87th Anniversary celebration this year is under the theme “PROTECT AND SERVE: CHAMPIONING ROAD SAFETY AND FIRST AID” was chosen in line with the recent high incidence of road accidents being recorded. The agency considered the fact that many road accidents injuries can be prevented with prior proper First Aid training and awareness and also to provide the platform to educate the public especially long-distance drivers and passengers on essential First Aid skills such as bleeding control, CPR and others.

In collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission, St. John Ambulance-Ghana is going to lead in advocacy of HIV/AIDS education on various Radio and Television stations nationwide in different local languages. This collaboration is specially to remind all Ghanaians especially the youth that HIV/AIDS Is still in existence and its silently spreading among the people.

The activities for this year’s celebration which will be observed from 18th- 27th June include;
  • First Aid at work training for VIP secretarial staff and selected drivers
  • Health education for VIP bus drivers
  • Presentation of Pen drives with recorded First Aid education videos to enable its passengers watch and learn during their journey in the buses.
  • CPD Training on HIV/AIDS and substance Abuse for its staff in partnership with Ghana Aids Commission.
As a track record, the agency has organized training programmes in various levels in First Aid to a number of institutions. Some of these institutions, still receive refresher applications for First Aid training every year due to their quality of service delivery. The agency takes this opportunity to applaud all these companies for recognizing the essence of First Aid and developing interest in it for their staff to be trained as well as fulfilling section 28 of Act 328, Factory, Offices, Industry Act of 1970.

A few of them listed below are:

MINING INDUSTRY
  • Anglogold Ashanti, (Iduapriem)
  • Anglogold Ashanti (Obuasi)
  • Chirano Gold Limited
  • Adamus Resource Limited
  • Underground Mining Alliance [UMA]
  • Future Global Resources
  • Goldfields Tarkwa
  • Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd. Ahafo Mine
  • Ghana Manganese Company
  • Mensin Gold
  • Newmont Golden Ridge Ltd. Akyem
  • Perseus Mining Ghana Limited
AVIATION INDUSTRY
  • Africa World Airline
  • Air Futures
  • Passion Airline
  • AeroVector Limited
  • Abed Air
ENERGY SECTOR
  • Cenpower Operation & Services
  • Bayfields Oil Services
  • Menbah Gas
  • Puma Energy
  • Genser Energy
  • Volta River Authority
EDUCATIONAL SECTOR
  • Right To Dream Academy
  • Multikids Inclusive Academy
  • Shield International School
  • School of Hygiene
  • Health Management College
  • University of Environment and Sustainable Development
  • Madonna and Child School
  • Ensign Global College
  • Child Study Centre University of Ghana
  • Accra Technical University
  • Lakeside 21st Century Int. School
  • Mary Mount International School
ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION
  • Sonapack
  • I Engineering
  • GHACEM
  • Quantum Ghana Limited
  • Jodi Construction
  • Mantrac
  • BAUER Engineering Ghana Limited
  • Hemans Technical Services
  • B&A Development Properties
  • CBI Ghana Limited
  • CIMAF Ghana Limited
  • Park Teletech Africa
  • Thermotech Engineering and Project Ltd
  • Contracta Construzioni Italia S.R.L
  • Meridian Logistics & Engineering
HEALTH SECTOR
  • World Health Organization
  • Focos Orthopaedic Hospital
  • University of Ghana Hospital
  • Oseiduro Medical Foundation
  • Kama Industry
  • COA Ghana Limited (Cape Coast)
OTHERS
  • Nestle Ghana Ltd
  • DVLA
  • Canadian Embassy
  • BNI
  • USAID
  • BETWAY
  • Shoprite
  • Danish Embassy
  • Jan De Limited
  • Minkah-Premo & Co Chambers
  • SWAG
  • Keyedmap Services (Security) Limited
  • Alteco
  • Fireshield
  • First National Bank
  • Logistics Direct
  • Fair Wages & Salaries Commission
  • International Growth Centre Legon
  • Fan Milk
  • Rock Africa
  • Audit Service
  • Integrated Legal Consultants
  • YEFL Ghana
  • National Insurance Commission
  • Weir Minerals
  • Pw Ghana Limited
  • Sewerage System
  • Southern Utilities
  • Ghana Maritime Authority
  • Cardinal Resources
  • Atlantic Port Services
  • Allship Logistics
  • Ribate Ghana Ltd
St. John Ambulance can boast of well dedicated and available volunteers who are delighted to serve with them and share great testimonies about the opportunity granted them to the spirit of volunteerism to serve their nation through the eyes of the agency. Some of the amazing testimonies captured in their recent refresher training program for their volunteers this year that being a volunteer has given them the opportunity to acquire Basic First Aid tips and learn from their environment. The biggest joy of another volunteer was that he is now recognized as a First Aider because he lost his mother at a period he knew nothing about First Aid. Believing that if he knew about first aid, his mother would have survived the attack. Another interesting testimony of another volunteer was the joy he receives when he renders assistance to others through First Aid and volunteerism has indeed helped him to build his self-esteem. These and many more revelations were expressed by the volunteers during the engagement period with them.

The agency is currently managing over fifty (50) First Aid school clubs from the various regions through the professional mentorship and training of its staff and well-trained volunteers. These schools are basically public and private junior & senior high schools and some tertiary institutions. Some of these schools are captured below under their Regions.

Northern Region
  • Ghana Senior High School Tamale Senior High School
  • Business Senior High School
  • Presbyterian Senior High School – Kukuo Campus
  • Presbyterian Senior High School – Banvim Campus
  • City Senior High School
  • Dabokpa Senior High School
  • Savulugu Senior High School
  • Kumbungu Senior High School
  • Zabzugu Senior High School
  • Zabzugu DA/ Junior High School
  • Tatale E.P. Agricultural Senior High School
  • Sakasaka Division
  • Gambaga College of Education
  • Al-Saadi Senior High School
  • Islamic Senior High School
  • St. Charles Senior High School
  • Tamale Girls Senior High School
  • Fathul-Mubin Senior High School
Greater Accra Region
  • Independence Avenue 1 Junior High School
  • James Town Junior High School
  • James Town Primary School
  • Jane Montessori School
  • St Bartholomew Anglican Junior High School, Teshie
  • Teshie Estate Preparatory School
  • Odartey Lamptey Junior High School
  • LEKMA S5 Junior High School
Ashanti Region
  • Ridge Schools
  • Headline School Complex
  • State Experimental School
  • Experimental Junior High School
Central Region
  • A.M.E. Zion Junior High School
  • Academy of Christ the King Senior High School
  • Central Grammar Senior High School
  • Cape Coast International Senior High School
  • Fedep international School
Western Region
  • Takoradi Senior High School
  • Baidoo Bonsoe Senior High School
  • Adiembra Senior high school
  • Ketan Junior High School
  • Celestial Institute of Professional Studies
  • Presby Junior High School
  • St. John The Baptist Catholic Junior High School
  • Naraguta Grammar School – Tarkwa
  • Hooper D/C Junior High School- Tarkwa
  • Tarkwa Methodist Junior High School
  • Pentecost Preparatory School
  • Twinkle Burgeon International School
Upper West Region
  • Wa model Junior High School
  • Time Baptist School
  • St. Aidan Anglican Basic School
Upper East Region
  • Awe Senior High School
  • Namolo Junior High School
  • Navrongo Senior High School
  • Adabayeire Junior High School
  • Abatey Junior High School
Western-North Region
  • Mensin Gold Mines Basic Sschool
  • Chirano Senior High School
  • Akaaso Basic School
  • Obarayeko Basic School
  • Patrick Charity Academy
In view of the above mandate and passion for health and wellness, this year’s 87th anniversary of St. John Ambulance, Ghana, the agency will be embarking on a massive health education in First Aid road safety measures, HIV/AIDS and substance abuse related issues through the Radio and Television in different local languages as its contribution to help reduce the number of casualties in the country. As they celebrate this anniversary, they stand and honour the countless lives touched, the families supported and the communities empowered through their work. Let’s join the agency as they reflect on their journey, celebrate their achievements, and look forward to many more years of service and impact.