FG Begins CPR, AED Training to Boost Emergency Response

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government begins cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic life support (BLS) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training for staff of the Federal Ministry of Health, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s emergency response to sudden cardiac arrest.

The initiative, supported by the Nigerian Cardiac Society (NCS) and the Society for Public Health and Social Development, was inaugurated on Thursday by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, in Abuja.

Salako says the training is a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the last National Council on Health meeting, where sudden cardiac arrest is recognised as a major public health emergency requiring urgent action beyond hospital settings.

“Today’s event is not just a training exercise; it is a deliberate policy action aimed at saving lives,” the minister says.

“Sudden cardiac arrest can occur anywhere — at home, in offices or at public gatherings — and when it happens, every second counts.”

According to Salako, equipping ministry staff with life-saving skills strengthens workplace emergency preparedness while reinforcing the government’s leadership role in patient safety, preventive healthcare and public health resilience.

The minister says the programme will be expanded beyond government offices, with plans to cascade the training to communities nationwide, empowering citizens to respond effectively to cardiac emergencies.

“We envision a Nigeria where citizens can recognise sudden cardiac arrest, commence CPR immediately and use an AED where available,” he says.

“By extending this training to schools, workplaces and public spaces, we are building a nationwide network of first responders.”

President of the Nigerian Cardiac Society, Prof Augustine Odili, says the society is developing local training modules, certification standards and quality assurance protocols to support nationwide CPR, BLS and AED deployment.

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Mirian Gom

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Gom Mirian AHR Senior Correspondent, has over 8 years’ experience reporting on health, crime, education, investigations, and development issues across Nigeria and Africa. With dual degrees in Economics, she combines analytical skill with compelling storytelling. Widely recognised for her public health and humanitarian reporting, she earned a Nestlé Award nomination for compelling human-interest journalism. Follow her on Twitter @mirian_linus.

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