Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced a four-day Basic Life Support (BLS) training for health workers from seven FCT hospitals, in line with the National Council on Health’s approval for the implementation of the National BLS Training Programme across the country.
The FCTA said the training is part of its efforts to improve emergency care and ensure that health workers are better prepared to respond when patients require immediate attention
A statement signed by the FCT Mandate Secretary for Health and Environment Services Media Aide, Bola Ajao said the American Heart Association’s (AHA) certified training is taking place at the Conference Hall of Asokoro District Hospital. Health workers from Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse, Gwarinpa, Kuje, Kubwa and Nyanya hospitals are participants in the exercise.
She said the training is aimed at improving the ability of health workers to respond quickly to emergencies and provide basic life-saving care while further medical intervention is in progress.
The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, while declaring the training open, said the exercise would improve emergency services across FCT hospitals and help reduce preventable loss of lives.
She explained the participants would share the knowledge gained with their colleagues and also members of the public, in support of the National Community CPR Initiative.
Dr. Fasawe said the FCTA wants its health workers to remain up to date with global practices in emergency care.
She added the administration is working towards establishing Code Blue Teams across FCT hospitals to ensure that patients requiring urgent attention receive prompt care.
According to the Mandate Secretary, the training would be extended to other hospitals in the FCT, with the necessary basic equipment and other requirements provided to support emergency response and patient care.
“Our goal is to consistently record success stories from ‘no pulse to resuscitation’. When people know that they can receive timely and proper emergency care in our hospitals, it will also build their confidence and trust in government hospitals to respond swiftly and manage their loved ones.
She added that, “Participants will undergo a test at the end of the training to assess their knowledge and understanding of the lessons. Certificates will be presented to participants who successfully meet the required standard”.
The Medical Director of Asokoro District Hospital, Dr. Oluseyi Ashaolu, described the training as necessary and timely for health workers to keep pace with developments in basic emergency care globally.
He said the knowledge and skills acquired would help curb avoidable loss of lives, particularly in situations where immediate and appropriate intervention could make the difference between life and death.
The training coordinator, Dr. Rosemary Nwokorie, a Consultant Anaesthetist, said the exercise is being conducted in batches.
The first batch is scheduled for August 21 and 22, 2026, while the second batch will take place on September 4 and 5, 2026.
She added that the training also includes a Stop the Bleeding course, which focuses on helping health workers control severe bleeding in trauma patients prior to definitive medical care.
The team of instructors is led by Dr. Onyedika Godfrey Okoye, a Trauma Surgeon at the Trauma Centre, National Hospital, Abuja.