In a significant move to bolster emergency preparedness, the Federal Government has launched a training programme on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Basic Life Support (BLS), and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) for staff of the Federal Ministry of Health.
The initiative, supported by the Nigerian Cardiac Society (NCS) and the Society for Public Health and Social Development, aims to improve response to sudden cardiac arrests and other life-threatening medical emergencies both within ministry premises and across the wider community.
The training was inaugurated on Thursday in Abuja by Dr. Iziaq Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, who described the programme as a direct outcome of resolutions from the last National Council on Health.
A National Priority: Responding to Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Dr. Salako explained that the council had declared sudden cardiac arrest a public health emergency, highlighting the urgent need for trained responders beyond hospital settings.
“Today’s event is therefore not just a training exercise; it is a deliberate policy action aimed at saving lives,” he said. “Sudden cardiac arrest can occur anywhere—at home, in offices, at public gatherings, or within institutions such as ours. When it happens, every second counts.”
The minister stressed that the ability to recognise an emergency, start CPR immediately, and deploy an AED where available can mean the difference between life and death.
By equipping ministry staff with these essential skills, he said, the government is strengthening emergency preparedness at the workplace and reinforcing its leadership role in promoting patient safety and public health resilience.
From Government Offices to Communities
Dr. Salako added that the training will not remain limited to ministry personnel. It is intended to be cascaded nationwide, with the aim of empowering citizens to respond effectively to cardiac emergencies in homes, schools, workplaces, and public spaces.
“This initiative will not stop within the walls of the Federal Ministry of Health,” he stated. “We envision a Nigeria where citizens are empowered to recognise sudden cardiac arrest, initiate CPR promptly, and use an AED where available.”
Expert Insight: The Importance of Immediate Response
Dr. Olanrewaju Olatunji, Deputy Director of the Trauma Emergency Disaster Response Programme at the ministry, emphasised that everyone should learn basic emergency response skills.
“It is important for every person to know how to perform CPR,” he said. “The first four minutes are crucial. If the brain is deprived of oxygen, the person might remain vegetative or eventually die.”
He explained that sudden collapse can result from a range of causes including cardiovascular, neurological, and endocrine conditions, as well as comorbidities such as hypertension and stroke. Immediate CPR can significantly improve survival outcomes.
Setting Standards for Certification and Public Access AEDs
Prof. Augustine Odili, President of the Nigerian Cardiac Society, noted that the council is developing training modules, quality assurance measures, and certification processes for CPR, BLS, and AED use.
He revealed that many Nigerians currently hold CPR certification through the American Heart Association, but emphasised the need for local protocols and certification standards.
“What NCS is doing is to develop a certification process,” he said. “Part of what we launched today is the protocol for installation and maintenance of public access defibrillators.”
Prof. Odili attributed the majority of cardiac arrest cases to cardiovascular diseases linked to risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles.