Abuja: Three Non-Governmental Organisations on Tuesday in Abuja organised a training for desk officers from various organisations, including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on first-response skills to reduce deaths during emergencies. The organisers are Smile Network International, the HAVIDS Centre for Environment and Development, and the Fountain Heritage Network for Social Development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the training is tagged ‘LifefirstNaija: Community Bystander First Responder Trainer’. It is aimed at equipping citizens with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to respond promptly in emergency situations. Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, a retired Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, said the initiative was designed to equip ordinary citizens with life-saving skills before professional help arrives.
Nwaobiala, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Fountain Heritage Network for Social Development, stressed the importance of timely response to emergencies. He noted that emergencies could occur anywhere, including homes, markets, schools, and workplaces. He described the training as a sensitisation programme to address low levels of emergency response in Nigeria, which he said had contributed to avoidable deaths.
Nwaobiala emphasized that people are often unaware of what to do during emergencies and sometimes crowd around victims, unintentionally worsening the situation. The initiative seeks to create awareness and build a network of advocates who can promote proper emergency response and educate others in their workplaces. He highlighted the importance of knowing how to respond in an emergency or accident to save lives and reduce pain, emphasizing that this is the first sensitisation programme in Abuja and will continue.
Additionally, Nwaobiala mentioned that the initiative would help address concerns about negligence in healthcare by promoting early intervention before victims reach hospitals. He called for attitudinal change among Nigerians, stressing the need for collective responsibility, reorientation, and commitment to saving lives.
Mrs. Christiana Oliko, a retired Director in the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, also spoke at the event, highlighting the necessity of the training given the increasing reports of emergency-related deaths across the country. She noted that emergencies could occur in everyday settings, including schools and recreational environments, and emphasized that timeliness is critical in saving lives, with training starting from young people being key to building a responsive society.