2026 Training Recap

EMS Education

In August 2026, KOPI Medical returned to Arusha, Tanzania, to continue our work in prehospital emergency care and first responder mental health. Working alongside Dr. Peter Mabula and the Same Qualities Foundation (SQF), we trained firefighters representing all 26 mainland regions of Tanzania.

Our EMS education focuses on the practical challenges first responders face when caring for injured people before they reach a hospital. The curriculum emphasizes patient assessment, recognition of immediate threats to life, hemorrhage control, injury stabilization, and coordinated emergency response.

Bringing firefighters together from across the country created an opportunity to exchange experiences and consider how training can meet the needs of different communities. This nationwide participation provides a foundation for our next phase: helping experienced first responders develop the skills to teach and support their colleagues.

Mental Health Education

Mental health remained a central part of our work in 2026. Our education addresses both the well-being of first responders and their interactions with people experiencing distress.

Training materials emphasized practical communication and crisis intervention skills, including active listening, recognizing emotional distress, reducing confrontation, and connecting people with appropriate support. Substance use education addressed problem drinking, stigma, and ways to approach a colleague, friend, or family member with concern and respect.

Our approach builds on KOPI and SQF’s continuing work in peer support and coping skills. The goal is to give first responders useful tools for supporting themselves, their colleagues, and the people they serve, while recognizing when professional help is needed.

As we develop future training, we are considering how first responders can share these skills with others in ways that are practical, culturally appropriate, and suited to the resources available in their communities.

Partnership and National Engagement

The 2026 program reflected strong engagement from Tanzania’s fire service. The training commander and deputy commissioner general attended on multiple days, and participants and leadership expressed interest in expanding the work.

This engagement is an important step toward developing a sustainable training model. Continued collaboration with Tanzanian leadership, Dr. Peter Mabula, and SQF will help guide participant selection, curriculum development, and the support needed for firefighters to use and teach these skills.

Planning is underway for our return in August 2027. Together with our partners, we are exploring a train-the-trainer approach that preserves the connection between emergency care and mental health while building local teaching capacity.

We are grateful to the firefighters, local partners, volunteer instructors, and supporters who made the 2026 program possible. Their participation and commitment continue to shape the future of this work.