Funmi Ogundare
NaijAidUK, via its HealthHelp charity initiative, has educated greater than 8,000 healthcare professionals and members of the general public in first support and emergency response over the previous decade, as a part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency preparedness and save lives.
The organisation disclosed this because it marked its tenth anniversary with a four-day specialised coaching programme in Lagos, designed to equip healthcare employees, college students and members of the general public with sensible expertise to answer medical emergencies and psychological well being challenges.
The programme, held from October 27 to 30, 2026, featured Immediate Life Support (ILS) coaching for clinicians, psychological well being consciousness coaching and two days of basic first emergency response coaching.
Speaking on the anniversary and the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer and Founding Trustee of NaijAidUK, Dr. Lanre Nehan-Babalola, famous that the organisation was dedicated to constructing a community of educated people able to responding to emergencies and transferring life-saving data to others.
She mentioned the train-the-trainer programme was designed to create a multiplier impact by empowering contributors to increase their data to households, faculties and communities.
“The essence of our train-the-trainer programme is to empower individuals with the talents to avoid wasting lives and, extra importantly, equip them to go that data on to others. We consider in coaching one and saving many.
“Emergency response is not just an activity; it is a culture of knowing the right things to do at the right time,” she mentioned.
Nehan-Babalola emphasised the necessity to combine bodily and psychological well being into emergency preparedness, noting that contributors had been educated to recognise when people required help, reply appropriately and search skilled help earlier than conditions deteriorated.
The programme acquired commendation from stakeholders in the well being sector, together with the Director of Nursing, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Omowunmi Folashade Ekong, who described the coaching as a well timed intervention for enhancing consciousness and group help.
She acknowledged that the coaching had outfitted contributors with the data to recognise stressors, establish early indicators of emotional and psychological well being challenges, present applicable help and direct people requiring additional consideration to skilled care.
She added: “The knowledge acquired would benefit homes, schools, workplaces and the wider society.”
Similarly, the Director of Ogun State Ambulance and Emergency Services, Dr. Festus Adetonwa, who represented the state (*10*) for Health, counseled NaijAidUK for addressing psychological well being and first support, describing them as crucial areas requiring better consideration in the nation’s healthcare system.
He famous that the primary jiffy following an accident, collapse or medical emergency may considerably decide the end result, stressing the necessity to equip odd residents with life-saving expertise to offer fast help earlier than the arrival of an ambulance.
Adetonwa additionally referred to as for better efforts to sort out psychological well being stigma and encourage individuals to hunt applicable help.
“These initiatives align with the government’s commitment to strengthening emergency medical services and promoting preventive, people-centred healthcare. The Ministry of Health fully identifies with this effort and encourages its sustainability,” he mentioned.
Established in 2015, NaijAidUK interventions have additionally included donations of medical tools, skilled growth for healthcare employees and community-focused well being initiatives geared toward strengthening healthcare supply in Nigeria.
The organisation’s scientific and emergency response programs embrace UK-certified programmes delivered by certified scientific specialists primarily based and educated in the United Kingdom, in alignment with World Health Organisation (WHO) tips and recognised finest practices.
It has additionally prolonged its interventions to underserved communities via initiatives equivalent to Project ACT, which adapts first support training to enhance entry for individuals with listening to and speech impairments.
The anniversary programme additionally featured the Executive Chairman of Ose Local Government Area, Ondo State, Clement Kolapo Ojo, as a visitor, underscoring the significance of presidency and group participation in increasing entry to life-saving data.
As a part of its subsequent part, the organisation referred to as for stronger collaboration with authorities establishments, healthcare organisations, faculties, companies and group stakeholders to broaden entry to first support and psychological well being training throughout the nation.
The charity reaffirmed its dedication to selling a society the place emergency preparedness is a shared duty and extra residents possess the data and sensible expertise to reply when lives are in danger.
