ABUJA: In a bid to address the rising cases of cardiac arrest, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has inaugurated Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Centres across the nation’s capital.
The initiative, launched during the Bring Back to Life (BBL) programme organized by the Nigeria Cardiac Society, aims to equip communities with lifesaving skills and install Public Access Defibrillators (PAD) in high-traffic public places.
Dr. Mahmoud, while performing the flag-off, emphasized the urgent need to tackle cardiovascular diseases, which remain a leading cause of death globally, and are alarmingly prevalent in Nigeria.
“Empowering communities with CPR skills ensures prompt response and increases chances of survival,” she noted, highlighting that swift intervention in cardiac emergencies can double or even triple survival rates.
The FCT administration’s decision to establish CPR centres aligns with its commitment to enhancing healthcare infrastructure and improving the capacity of communities to respond to emergencies.
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According to Dr. Mahmoud, the initiative reflects the “renewed hope agenda” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly through public-private partnerships.
Speaking on the programme’s impact, the chairman of the Bring Back to Life initiative, Dr. Akinyemi Aje, underscored the importance of proper CPR training, citing that 89% of cardiac arrest cases occur outside hospitals.
He pointed out that many first responders are either untrained or distracted, often recording incidents rather than providing aid.
“The ‘Slump and Die’ phenomenon spares no one, regardless of financial status or occupation, but ‘Slump and Live’ is achievable if we work together to change our mindset,” Dr. Aje stated, advocating for widespread CPR education at all levels of society, including among children.
Dr. Mahmoud urged Nigerians to embrace healthy lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise, reduced calorie and salt intake, and cessation of smoking and alcohol consumption. These, she stressed, are cost-effective methods to reduce cardiovascular diseases.
The newly established CPR centres are expected to play a vital role in reducing cardiac-related fatalities in the FCT, creating a more resilient and prepared community that can act quickly when faced with life-threatening emergencies.
