Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation (ACT Foundation), in partnership with IHS Towers, has given one million naira grant to Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) to build secondary school students capacity on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
This is contained in a statement by Mr Paschal Achunine, HEI, Executive Director, on Thursday in Lagos.
Achunine said that the grant was sequel to the emergence of HEI among the top 10 finalists of the ACT Foundation Changemaker Innovation Challenge (CIC) and winner of the IHS Towers support grant.
He added that the great feat also attracted an eight-week leadership/management training scholarship for a personnel of HEI at the Lagos Business School (LBS).
“This initiative became imperative with the growing anxiety about the high incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as heart attack, cardiac arrest, and the attendant fatalities among Nigerians in recent years.
“The programme which was successfully implemented between January and May 2023 ensured that 40 secondary students and 25 of their teachers across the six educational districts in Lagos were equipped with essential life-saving skills, creating a more prepared and resilient community.
“Each of the participants acquired critical pre-hospital skills required to manage such cases as cardiac arrest, heart attack, fainting, seizures, internal bleeding, bites, poison, burns, wounds, fainting and Choking, among others.
“Similarly, two First Responders clubs benefitting over 1,000 students across Awodiora Senior Secondary School & AUD Comprehensive Secondary School were inaugurated to ensure knowledge retention and transferability,” Achunine said.
He added that First Responders Clubs that were set up in the schools, were in line with the ‘Train the Trainer’ model of the scheme.
Achunine noted that activities such as essay competition, quiz and debates would be instituted in the schools, to foster a lifesaving culture in the State.
He, however, expressed profound gratitude to Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation and IHS Towers for the huge support.
Achunine lauded the organizations for their commitment to the sustainability of its operating environment and social landscape across Africa, bearing in mind that any investment in young people would translate to business continuity.
He expressed delight that HEI was selected among the top 10 finalists out 250 organizations in Africa.
Speaking on the sponsorship of the program, the Chief Executive Officer of ACT Foundation, Mr Osayi Alile, said the foundation is committed to empowering youths and touching lives.
This, he said, explained the reason why the foundation keyed into the lifesaving initiative.
Alile urged other organizations and individuals to increase their support and collaboration with organizations that advance the health, safety and wellbeing of young people and imbibe a stronger culture of effective emergency response in Nigerian society.
