By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Maternal Accountability Mechanism in Kaduna Initiative (KADMAM) has urged the government to enact legislation making Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training a mandatory component of the school curriculum. The call was made during a media sensitization programme held in Kaduna.
KADMAM Co-Chair, Garba Muhammad, made the appeal at the event organized by the Michael and David Alao Memorial Emergency Preparedness (M&DAMEP) in collaboration with KADMAM and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council. He said the initiative is aimed at strengthening accountability and improving the emergency response services established by the state government.
Muhammad noted that several preventable deaths across the state underscore the importance of early medical intervention. According to him, equipping the media with CPR knowledge will help amplify public awareness and ultimately save more lives.
“The media are the mirror of society, and sensitizing them means sensitizing the public. We are teaching journalists lifesaving emergency techniques, especially CPR, to assist individuals in distress,” he said.
He emphasized that integrating CPR into secondary school education would enable thousands of students to acquire essential first aid skills. Such knowledge, he added, would help foster a generation capable of acting swiftly during medical emergencies.
“CPR equips people with the ability to provide immediate care during emergencies. Learning basic first-aid skills gives young people the confidence to step in and help someone in need — and in extreme cases, it can save a life,” Muhammad noted.
He urged government authorities to adopt the initiative to promote a culture in which lifesaving techniques become routine and widely practiced.
“If every school leaver is trained in CPR, the impact on survival rates and community resilience will be immeasurable,” he added.
A CPR trainer, Dr. Euphemia Ugu, explained that CPR sustains oxygen circulation throughout the body, delaying tissue death and increasing the likelihood of survival. She stressed that a victim’s chances improve significantly when bystanders respond promptly.
In his presentation, Dr. Oduma Lazarus, Head of Training and Flick at the Kaduna State Emergency Ambulance Services (KADSEMSAS), said the agency was established to improve emergency healthcare delivery and ensure timely access to critical interventions. He disclosed that KADSEMSAS operates a toll-free emergency line that facilitates swift ambulance response, particularly for maternal, neonatal, and accident-related emergencies.
According to Lazarus, the first 48 hours of emergency care are provided free, especially for pregnant women, children, and accident victims.
Earlier, NUJ Kaduna State Chairman, Comrade Abdulgafar Alabelewe, urged journalists to apply the knowledge gained from the training to enlighten residents, emphasizing that emergencies can occur without warning.
“A lot of lives have been lost due to poor emergency response. When people know the right steps to take, more lives can be saved,” he said.
Also speaking, Gideon Akintade, Secretary of M&DAMEP, said the sensitization was intended to equip journalists with basic knowledge needed to respond effectively during emergencies.
At the event, the Foundation presented digital blood pressure monitors and other souvenirs to KADMAM, KADSEMSAS, and NUJ in recognition of their contributions to strengthening emergency response systems in Kaduna State.
