The Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, RSUTH, has commenced a training programme on Basic Life Support, BLS, and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, ACLS, aimed at strengthening emergency response and improving patients’ chances of survival.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Chief Medical Director of RSUTH, Professor Chizindu Alikor, said emergencies such as cardiac arrest and respiratory failure require immediate and decisive action, stressing that the difference between tragedy and survival could depend on whether someone nearby knows what to do.
Professor Alikor described BLS and ACLS as lifesaving competencies that transform medical knowledge into confidence and prompt action. He said RSUTH has a responsibility to set the standard for emergency preparedness, adding that regular training and retraining must become part of the hospital’s culture.
The CMD said the first batch of the programme has fifty participants comprising doctors and nurses from the Accident and Emergency, Cardiology and Anaesthesia units, with more healthcare workers expected to benefit as the training progresses. He urged staff to take the programme seriously, noting that its true measure would be the number of lives saved during emergencies.
Performing the official flag-off, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Doctor Vincent Wachukwu, stressed the importance of resuscitation skills, noting that emergencies can occur anywhere and at any time.
Doctor Wachukwu recalled an incident in which a passenger was reportedly saved on a moving aircraft because someone on board had knowledge of resuscitation. He used the incident to emphasise the need for people to have basic knowledge of lifesaving procedures.
Today FM’s Odinakachi Celestine reports that the programme was attended by consultants and other senior medical professionals and is designed to equip participants with the skills required to respond effectively to medical emergencies. The trainees are expected to receive certificates at the end of the exercise.
