A non-profit organisation, Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), in partnership with the United States (U.S.) Diplomatic Mission, has commenced the first phase of training secondary school teachers across various school districts.
The training, which commenced on Monday at the America Corners, Ikeja, Lagos State, has a five-year approval from the state Ministry of Education to integrate emergency response skills into the secondary school curriculum.
Targeting over 1,000 teachers within 90 days, the organisation seeks to train 50 teachers across six education districts, respectively, with the basic skills on emergency response skills under the Train-the-Trainer (TOT) model to ensure community and student safety.
While emphasising the need for creating awareness on emergency response, the Executive Director and Founder of HEI, Pascal Achunine, explained that over 80% of the population lacks the knowledge to handle emergencies.
Achunine said, “This program will train teachers, who will in turn train thousands of students and others in their communities,” while highlighting that the first phase is supported by LFR International USA, focusing on Lagos and Rivers State.
It was disclosed that over 126,000 individuals have been trained under the organisation, including students, teachers, police officers, and emergency personnel.
The Ashoka Fellow underscored the interest they received from government agencies and corporate organisations, with the belief to be known and supported globally.
Achunine said, “We are not just teaching theory; we are building a culture of saving lives.
Dr. Abigail Mkperedem, the chair trainer, highlighted the importance of inculcating the basic knowledge in educators, describing teachers as carers and most at times be the first to notice any health issues on children before their parents.
“By equipping them with emergency skills, we enhance their ability to respond effectively,” she acknowledged.
At the training, participants learnt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), first aid for burns, choking, seizures, bleeding, and heart attacks resuscitation.
Other responses were taught to manage emergencies efficiently, including the Dr. ABC emergency response method—Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, and Circulation.
While commending the organisers for this initiative, Adeoti Samuel, a Physical and Health Education teacher from Lagos Education District 4, explained the training has inspired and refreshed his knowledge to implement practical sessions for his students.
“The goal is to ensure they can apply these skills in real-life situations,” he explained.
A teacher from District 5, Taiwo Adebisi, explained the importance of the knowledge obtained during the burn care lesson.
Adebisi narrates, “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.