The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has launched a nationwide initiative to train 10,000 medical professionals on advanced and basic life support.

The programme aims to equip healthcare workers with the skills and knowledge needed to respond to life-threatening situations, particularly those arising from obstructive airway, pulmonary, and cardiac issues.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a one-day workshop in Port Harcourt, Dr. Osundara Zenith, President of NARD, highlighted the alarming surge in sudden deaths due to these issues.

He cited a recent incident where a doctor slumped and died after watching a football match, emphasizing the need for timely intervention to save lives.

“The reason we’re doing this is because we’ve noticed a surge in sudden deaths arising from either obstructive airway, pulmonary issues, or cardiac issues,” Dr. Zenith said.

“Unfortunately, people are not sufficiently knowledgeable about what to do in cases of life-threatening situations.”

The workshop, which focuses on training doctors on advanced cardiac support, including the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), is part of NARD’s broader goal to enhance medical professionals’ skills in emergency response.

Dr. Zenith highlighted the critical need for timely interventions in saving lives, particularly in cases of spinal cord injuries and cardiac emergencies, noting that the workshop was designed to provide medical professionals with the training and skills needed to respond to emergency situations effectively.

He emphasized that the programme is not limited to doctors alone but is open to all healthcare workers, including nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, and physiotherapists.

“We want to train and retrain both healthcare workers and members of the public. When issues arise and there’s a medical emergency, sometimes it might not be a doctor that will save you, but if we have people who have this knowledge on what to do, it can make a difference.”

He added that the training aims to improve response times, confidence, and competence among healthcare workers, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.

He, however, urged participants to spread the word about the workshop beyond the medical community, encouraging hospital management teams to support the initiative and extend the training to other members of staff.

“We want to key into this training, it’s essential for us, it’s essential for the medical community. When we have this knowledge, you’ll be confident enough, you’ll be competent, and it’ll improve the response time and also give us the desired health outcome we’re looking for.”

In his remarks, Chief Medical Director of UPTH, Professor Henry Ugboma, commended the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) for its initiative to train healthcare workers on life-saving skills.

Represented by the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Dantonye Alasia, Ugboma praised NARD for its efforts in advancing healthcare in Nigeria.

“We thank NARD for this very wonderful initiative,” Prof. Alasia said. “It’s essential to give it all the publicity that is required, and we hope you have adequate press and media coverage.”

He emphasized the importance of human resource and human capacity building in healthcare, highlighting that NARD’s initiative aligns with the government’s strategic objectives. “Providing the skills and competence required for people to save lives and make a big difference is crucial,” he said.