The Federal Capital Territory Administration has begun a four-day Basic Life Support training for health workers from seven hospitals in the territory.

The programme is aimed at strengthening emergency response and reducing preventable deaths.

The training, which started at the Conference Hall of Asokoro District Hospital, is being held under the National Basic Life Support Training Programme approved by the National Council on Health. It is certified by the American Heart Association and involves staff from Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse, Gwarinpa, Kuje, Kubwa and Nyanya hospitals.

Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Dolapo Fasawe, said the exercise would equip participants with the skills needed to respond quickly to medical emergencies and provide basic life-saving care. She noted that the knowledge gained would also be shared with colleagues and the public as part of the National Community CPR Initiative.

Fasawe disclosed that the FCTA is working towards establishing Code Blue Teams across its hospitals to ensure patients who need urgent attention receive prompt intervention. She said the goal is to record more successful resuscitations and build public confidence in government hospitals.

The training is being conducted in batches, with the first running on August 21 and 22 and the second scheduled for September 4 and 5. It also includes a “Stop the Bleeding” course to help health workers control severe bleeding in trauma cases before further treatment is available.