….Targets over 1,000 Teachers in Lagos, Rivers State.

As part of an initiative to improve emergency response in Nigerian schools, the Health Emergency Initiative, HEI, in partnership with the United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, has commenced the training of secondary school teachers in life-saving first aid and emergency response skills.

The training, conducted under a Train-the-Trainer (TOT) model, aims to equip teachers with essential pre-hospital emergency care skills to ensure the safety of students and communities. The initiative follows a five-year approval from the Lagos State Ministry of Education to integrate emergency response training into the secondary school curriculum.

Speaking at the launch, Executive Director and Founder of HEI, Pascal Achunine, emphasized the urgent need for emergency response awareness in Nigeria.

“Over 80% of the population do not know emergency numbers to call or what to do in a crisis. This program will train teachers, who will in turn train thousands of students and others in their communities,” Achunine stated.

He said the first phase of the training, supported by LFR International USA, targets 50 teachers across six education districts in Lagos and Rivers State, with a projected reach of over 1,000 teachers within 90 days.

Achunine noted that since its inception, HEI has trained over 126,000 people, including students, teachers, police officers, and emergency personnel.

According to the Ashoka Fellow, with more government agencies and corporate organizations showing interest in emergency response training, HEI hopes this initiative will gain nationwide recognition and support. “We are not just teaching theory; we are building a culture of saving lives,” Achunine concluded.

On her part, the lead trainer at HEI, Dr. Abigail Mkperedem stressed the importance of teaching pre-hospital care to educators.

“Teachers are not just educators; they are caregivers who often notice health issues before parents do. By equipping them with emergency skills, we enhance their ability to respond effectively,” she explained.

During the training, participants learned CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), first aid for burns, choking, seizures, bleeding, and heart attacks. Teachers were also introduced to the Dr. ABC emergency response methodDanger, Response, Airway, Breathing, and Circulation—which helps assess and manage medical emergencies efficiently.

Adeoti Oluwafemi Samuel, a Physical and Health Education teacher from Lagos Education District 4, praised the initiative.

“This training has refreshed my knowledge and inspired me to implement practical first-aid lessons for my students. The goal is to ensure they can apply these skills in real-life situations,” he said.

Taiwo Adebisi, a teacher from District 5, highlighted the significance of the lessons on burn care.

“I used to believe in traditional remedies like applying toothpaste on burns, but now I know the correct procedure—running clean water over the burn instead,” she shared.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *