Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), has newly established First Responders Academy to train thousands of First Responders to preserve life and enhance the chances of survival of the victim, to prevent illness or injury from becoming worse; to relieve pains, where possible to promote recovery and protect the unconscious persons .Speaking to Mr Paschal Achunine,
Executive Director Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), added that these trained personnel can effectively handle critical pre-hospital emergencies such as spinal cord injury, heart attack, cardiac arrest, choking, fractures, bites, burns, Head and Neck injury, fainting, bleeding among others. Dissatisfaction with status quo in the country, Nigeria, where over 60% of the population live in dehumanizing conditions. We are set to train 100 secondary school students between January and February this year, and we have concluded plan to train 2,000 for the rest of 2022.
According to him,” HEI also gives timely support to patients who require emergency medical attention, especially post-crash care for accident victims, as well as provide certified training to citizens on First Aid, CPR, AED and Crowd Control. “The First Responders scheme trains and equips emergency agencies, bystanders, individuals, groups and volunteers on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid, to ensuring victims of any kind of emergencies receive timely attention as well as change the current practice of taking pictures and videos at such scenes instead of taking positive actions.He disclosed that HEI is a non–profit organization that pays the hospital bills of and provide intervention for indigent and vulnerable patients in public hospitals. Health Emergency Initiative,
HEI, recently trained 30 officials of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)in furtherance of its strategic objectives for increased capacity building to effectively manage pre-hospital emergencies, Achunine disclosed that FRSC actually recommended HEI to Guinness Nigeria Plc, who exclusively funded the training. Prior to now, HEI has technical collaboration/MOUs with many Instructors and organizations that are licensed by American Heart Association (AHA) The Executive Director appeals to well -meaning individuals and top reputable foundations to support the HEI project to save more lives in the country this year.
He also appreciated the widows support, lndividuals, corporate organizations, foreign companies from India and Singapore. We have worked with Tolaram Foundation, for over 5years to give artificial limbs to patients and people in need of them.He observed that with alot of lessons not learned from COVID 19 pandemic, there is little or nothing done to revive the health sector, since the Government cannot do it alone we should collectively support them to revamp alling- health lndustry..”The vision is to put in place a proactive functional, and technology-driven emergency response system.
This would reduce fatalities associated with post-crash and other emergency situations. lt is also aimed at equipping Nigerians as First Responders, with skill such as administering First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Crowd Control Skills duly certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) According to him, ln medium to long term, the vision of this ideal would incorporate safety and life-saving programme in the educational curriculum, National Youth Service Corp and ensures that all applicants for drivers’ license are certified as First Responders.
Emphasizing that many lives will be saved, dreams will not be cut short and public trust will be restored.We want to acknowledge and appreciate Lagos State government and other organizations for supporting our projects. HEI has earned several awards including the Best Supporting NGO award from Lagos State Health Service Commission (the regulatory arm of Ministry of Health) last November 2020 under his watch. Interestingly, Health Emergency Initiative, HEI was picked among the top 24 organizations/individuals that supported the fight against COVID-19 through the distribution of PPE for health workers in Africa. HEI was also enlisted among the league of extraordinary Nigerians by Nigeria Info FM in June 2021.He has also actively involved in volunteering services for many years till date, in various charity initiatives including an empowerment programme for widows in the Bariga slum and a soup kitchen for indigent children in Makoko.According to him,
HEI is a driven social entrepreneur with corporate professional experience of about two and a half decades spanning various senior managerial roles across Operations, Sales and Business Development.The visionary leader and pioneer leader disclosed that HEl have worked with over 24 health facilities and institutions, Lagos State Ministry of Health Warehouse, Lagos University Teaching Hospital LUTH ldi Araba, Lagos, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Massey Street Children’s Hospital .”We have worked and partnered with other hospitals like Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) GRA IKeja, Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta, lsland Maternity Hospital Lagos, Onikan Health Center, National Orthopedic Hospital, lgbobi, lkorodu General Hospital, Orile Agege General Hospital among others”-Achunine said.
