By Abdullahi Alhassan
Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria
November 16, 2025(Series News Online)
The Maternal Accountability Mechanism in Kaduna Initiative (KADMAM) has called on the Kaduna State Government to pass legislation introducing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training into the school curriculum.
Co-Chair of KADMAM, Garba Muhammad, made the appeal during a media sensitization programme organized by the Michael and David Alao Memorial Emergency Preparedness in collaboration with KADMAM and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna state Council.
"The media are the mirror of society, and sensitizing them means sensitizing the public. We are teaching journalists the techniques for administering emergency support, especially CPR, to persons in distress," Muhammad said.
Muhammad emphasized that introducing CPR into the school curriculum would enable thousands of secondary school students to acquire lifesaving first aid skills.
"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," he said.
He urged the government to adopt the initiative to build a culture where lifesaving skills become common and instinctive.
"If every school leaver is trained in CPR, the impact on survival rates and community resilience will be immeasurable," Muhammad added.
Dr. Euphemia Ugu, a CPR trainer, explained that the goal of CPR is to keep oxygen circulating through the lungs and the body, thereby delaying tissue death.
"CPR significantly increases a victim's chance of survival when bystanders act promptly, while also helping to prevent permanent brain damage caused by insufficient blood flow to the brain," she said.
Dr. Oduma Lazarus, Head of Training and Flick, Kaduna State Emergency Ambulance Services (KADSEMSAS), said the service was established to strengthen emergency healthcare delivery and ensure timely access to life-saving interventions.
"KADSEMSAS operates a toll-free emergency line to ensure swift ambulance deployment, particularly for maternal, neonatal, and accident-related emergencies," he said.
According to him, the first 48 hours of emergency care are provided free, especially for pregnant women, children, and accident victims.
Kaduna NUJ Chairman, Comrade Abdulgafar Alabelewe, urged journalists to apply the knowledge gained from the training to educate residents, noting that emergencies can occur at any time.
"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.
Gideon Akintade, Secretary of the Board of the Michael and David Alao Memorial Emergency Preparedness (M&DAMEP), said the sensitization campaign aimed to equip journalists with the knowledge needed to respond during emergencies.
The Foundation presented KADMAM, KADSEMSAS, and NUJ with a digital BP testing machine and other souvenirs in recognition of their commitments to advocating for sustainable and effective emergency services in the state.
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Training workshop