NARD Launches Training for 20,000 Nigerians in CPR to Tackle Cardiac Deaths

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has launched a nationwide initiative to train at least 20,000 Nigerians in basic and advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and life-support skills in a bid to cut down preventable deaths from cardiac arrest.

The three-day Advanced and Basic Cardiac Life Support workshop for the South-West zone, organised in partnership with the Damilola Adebola Cardiovascular Foundation, was flagged off at the Adebola Adegunwa Audio-Visual Centre, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.

In a statement on Friday, NARD President, Dr Tope Osundara, said the training became necessary following an “acute shortage” of first-line responders with the capacity to perform CPR during emergencies.

“It is appalling the rate at which people die from cardiac arrest because we don’t have enough people with the right knowledge to intervene. Everyone deserves to know what to do when faced with a life-threatening situation,” Osundara said.

He explained that the programme will target healthcare workers, military and paramilitary personnel, first responders, and members of the public, with a strategy to train beneficiaries as instructors who can further cascade the knowledge across communities.

OOUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Dr Oluwabunmi Fatugase, represented by Dr Ibukun Ogundele, praised the initiative, noting that it would empower both professionals and laypersons to confidently handle emergencies and reduce mortality.

ARD OOUTH President, Dr Monehin Olusola, lauded Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for funding medical residency training, while urging greater investment in medical equipment. Similarly, foundation founder Dr Damilola Ademola emphasised that “knowledge without the right instruments” would hinder the impact of such training.

The programme also integrates mental health support training, with experts stressing that long-term success depends on consistent government backing, funding, and the provision of resuscitation equipment like defibrillators.