06/10/23
DANIELS OG
PRESS RELEASE
UK Based Organization Trains 40 Lagos Nurses on Immediate Life Support
Lagos State Government has received the donation of 10 automated external defibrillators (AED) valued at 15 million naira from Naijaid-UK; a non-profit organization registered in the United Kingdom, for the improvement of emergency medical services in public health facilities in the State.
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable electronic device or machine that is used to treat cardiac arrest, a life-threatening condition where the heart suddenly stops beating properly. By sending an electric shock to the heart of a person in cardiac arrest, the AED restores a normal heart rhythm.
The multi-million naira AEDs donated by the Naijaid-UK is an automated voice prompt device which have electrode pads, batteries, capacitors and processors as some of its core components.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye received the AEDs donation on behalf the Lagos State Government during a-day Immediate Life Support (ILS) training programme organized by NaijaAid-UK for practicing Lagos nurses drawn from public and private health facilities held at the Radisson Hotel, Ikeja.
Speaking on the donation and the ILS training, Ogboye noted that AEDs will help improve the basic life support services provided by health workers in public health facilities and during emergency medical services.
He explained that the medical devices donated NaijaAid-UK will help the State Government provide immediate life support to those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest adding that the automated external defibrillator (AED) is a device that recognizes ventricular fibrillation and other dysrhythmias and delivers an electric shock at the right time to save lives.
Ogboye who was represented by the Director, Nursing Services, Mrs. Dorcas Shonibare at the event averred that it was in recognition of the invaluable role nurses play in providing medical emergency services both at the facility level and in emergency situations that made the Lagos State Government partner with NaijaAid-UK to improve the capacity of nurses through the ILS training.
He said: “The Lagos State Government recognizes the role of nurses in the provision of life saving medical services, thus bringing to fore, the urgent need to continue to develop nurses and other health workers capacity and lifesaving skills as part of effort to prepare them for the realities of the present day and keep them abreast of best practices in health care delivery anywhere in the world”.
Ogboye reiterated the commitment of the Governor Sanwo-Olu led administration to putting in place strategies geared towards building stronger local and global partnerships to meet the healthcare demands of the State whilst staying in tune with modern trends in healthcare service delivery.
While appreciating Naijaid-UK for the generous donation to the Lagos State Government, the Permanent Secretary stressed Lagos State is open to productive collaborations which will enhance the provision of an efficient and sustainable health care service in Lagos.
He noted that the AEDs would be put to good use, urging nurses who benefited from the training to make the best out of what they have learnt and cascade the knowledge to their colleagues at the facility level.
Speaking in the same vein, the Commissioner IV, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Mrs Kemi Ogunyemi who was also at the event expressed delight at the donation and capacity building workshop. She stressed the need for regular capacity building programs for health workers particularly nurses in Lagos State adding that training such as this will keep healthcare workers abreast of modern trends in efficient medical practice.
Ogunyemi appreciated Naijaid-UK for the productive partnership with the Lagos State Government adding that the attainment of universal health coverage and provision of efficient and quality health services can only be achieved through collaborative effort.
Chief Executive Officer, Naijaid-UK and Founding Trustee, Dr. Lanre Nehan-Babalola explained that Naijaid-UK is a non-profit organization which is committed to providing life-saving healthcare services to those in need. She added that Naijaid-UK carries out public awareness program, healthcare professional program, medical outreach program and medical equipment donation across the Africa continent.
Nehan-Babalola explains that the training session is targeted at supporting Nigerian Nurses in the management of patients as part of their Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to continue saving lives. She however commended the state Government through the Ministry of Health for creating an opportunity for a productive collaboration.
Dr. Folake Dawodu, a facilitator at the training stated that nurses must always be at their best in identifying and recognizing deteriorating patients as most cardiac arrests are predictable and adding that hypoxaemia and hypotension are common antecedents of the condition.
No fewer than 40 nurse executives drawn from public and private health facilities in Lagos State benefited from the immediate life support training sponsored by Naijaid-UK in partnership with the Lagos State Government.
Signed
Tunbosun Ogunbanwo
Director, Public Affairs
5th October, 2023
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