The Oyo State Government has been tasked on the need to prioritize public health and emergency response training in schools in a bid to mitigate the effects of accident.
Experts gave the advice during a three-day Youth Empowerment Project on Public Health related skills organised by the Shining Stars Global Impact Foundation in conjunction with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Oyo State branch.
The Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society in the state, Olaleye Ojo, said that it would be important for learners to be acquainted with training on first aid and emergency response to tackle emergencies.
He said, “There is the need to increase first aid knowledge among the populace, so we are calling on organisations and well meaning Nigerians to emulate SSII in training more Nigerians on first aid.
“We have over 2000 volunteers that had been trained on first aid but we lack the equipment to carry out most of our activities. In the whole state we don’t have a serviceable ambulance that can be used for emergency responses.
“We are calling for the support of people and the government to provide us with equipment and materials needed for first aid responses to upscale our impact.”
The branch Training Officer of Red Cross and facilitator at the event, Bolarinwa Kamarudeen, said that the essence of the training was to equip more people with the knowledge of emergency response in a bid to save lives.
Earlier, the Executive Director, SSII, Omokehinde Deji-Akinpelu, urged the participants to look for possible ways to apply the knowledge at the programme to solving problems during emergencies.
She said that “Think of how to solve a problem, how to add value to the society and people around you. When you do that, the sky is not even the limit to the endless possibilities you can create to make Nigeria and the world a better place.
“Those who are at the echelon of their career or profession who have created wealth for their generations to come are those who solve problems of their environment and give back to their society.”
The Commissioner for Health in Oyo State, Dr Olabode Ladipo, said that the state government was committed to public health and emergency response issues.
The commissioner, who was represented on the occasion by both Dr Gbolahan Abbas from the Research and Statistics Department of the ministry, and Mr Taiwo Ajiboye, Director of Nursing, state Ministry of Health, expressed delight on the stakeholders’ initiative in tackling emergencies.
He said that “Everything that has to do with public health or particularly emergencies is of concern to the Oyo State Ministry of Health. We appreciate the Red Cross and SSII for partnering for the good of Oyo State.
“In an emergency, response time is crucial especially between the time interval the emergency occurred and the response.
“Since the inception of the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, the state had procured 10 ambulances and there were donations of ambulances from individuals and corporate organisations.”
On behalf of other participants, Oluwagbemiga Abe, Jumoke Hastrop and Afees Olatunji, expressed appreciation to the organisers of the free first aid training programme.
