The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced a four-day Basic Life Support (BLS) training for health workers from seven FCT hospitals to improve emergency care.

Adedolapo Fasawe, the mandate secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES) of the FCTA, said this in a statement issued by her media aide, Bola Ajao, on Saturday in Abuja.

According to Ms Fasawe, the training was approved by the National Council on Health and certified by the American Heart Association (AHA).

Ms Fasawe said that health workers from Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse, Gwarinpa, Kuje, Kubwa, and Nyanya hospitals are participating in the training, which is aimed at improving the ability of health workers to respond quickly to emergencies and provide basic life care.

While declaring the training open, Ms Fasawe said the exercise would improve emergency services across FCT hospitals and help reduce the preventable loss of lives.

She explained that the participants would share the knowledge gained with their colleagues and members of the public in support of the National Community Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Initiative.

The mandate secretary also said that the aim was for FCTA health workers to remain up to date with global practices in emergency care.

She added that the administration was working towards establishing Code Blue Teams across FCT hospitals to ensure that patients who require urgent attention receive prompt care.

According to Ms Fasawe, the training would be extended to other hospitals in the FCT, with the necessary basic equipment and other requirements provided to support emergency response and patient care.

“Our goal is to consistently record success stories from ‘no pulse to resuscitation.

“When people know that they can receive timely and proper emergency care in our hospitals, it will also build their confidence and trust in government hospitals to respond swiftly and manage their loved ones.

“Participants will undergo a test at the end of the training to assess their knowledge and understanding of the lessons,” she said.

She added that certificates would be issued to participants who successfully meet the required standard.

The medical director of Asokoro District Hospital, Oluseyi Ashaolu, described the training as necessary and timely for health workers to keep pace with developments in basic emergency care globally.

He said the knowledge and skills acquired would help curb the avoidable loss of lives, particularly in situations where immediate and appropriate intervention could make the difference between life and death.

The training coordinator, Rosemary Nwokorie, a consultant anaesthetist, said the exercise was being conducted in batches.

“The first batch is scheduled for August 21 and 22, while the second batch will take place on September 4 and 5,” Mrs Nwokorie said.

She added that the training also includes a ‘Stop the Bleeding’ course, which focuses on helping health workers control severe bleeding in trauma patients prior to definitive medical care.

The team of instructors is led by Onyedika Okoye, a trauma surgeon at the Trauma Centre, National Hospital, Abuja.

The training is part of the FCTA’s efforts to improve emergency care and ensure that health workers are better prepared to respond when patients require immediate attention. 

(NAN)