In a bid to tackle the rising incidence of cardiac arrest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has inaugurated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Centres across Abuja. The initiative is part of the Bring Back to Life (BBL) programme, launched in collaboration with the Nigerian Cardiac Society (NCS), to train community members in responding to sudden cardiac emergencies.
At the launch event, Mahmoud underscored the importance of equipping communities with the necessary skills to handle cardiac arrest incidents. She highlighted the programme’s focus on training residents and installing Public Access Defibrillators (PAD) in public places with high foot traffic, ensuring immediate intervention during emergencies.
“CPR is a lifesaving technique that can double or even triple survival rates in cardiac arrest cases,” Mahmoud said. “By empowering communities with these skills, we are ensuring prompt responses and significantly increasing the chances of survival in such emergencies.”
Cardiovascular Disease on the Rise in Nigeria
Mahmoud noted that cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death globally, with the rate of incidence in Nigeria reaching alarming levels. In response, the FCT Administration is committed to enhancing healthcare infrastructure and community preparedness to address this growing threat.
“The rising cases of cardiovascular disease require us to act decisively,” she stated. “The Bring Back to Life (BBL) programme is an essential step towards mitigating this trend, enabling citizens to respond swiftly in emergencies and reduce the loss of life.”
The minister also emphasized the need for healthier lifestyles to prevent heart-related diseases, urging residents to engage in regular physical exercise, reduce their calorie and salt intake, and avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
“These lifestyle measures are cost-effective ways of reducing cardiovascular diseases, and adopting them can prevent a significant portion of the medical emergencies we are seeing today,” Mahmoud added.
BBL Programme to Train First Responders
Dr. Akinyemi Aje, Chairman of the Bring Back to Life programme, explained that the CPR centres were strategically established in public spaces due to the fact that 89% of cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals. He stressed the importance of educating first responders to properly administer CPR, as many interventions are often incorrect due to a lack of training.
Aje also expressed concern over the tendency of bystanders to record incidents for social media rather than offering assistance to victims. “Slump and die cases are becoming more frequent in homes, workplaces, and even during executive meetings,” he said.
However, he emphasized that “slump and live” is achievable with proper CPR orientation and training. “Each of us, including children, must be ready to learn the steps on how to bring back life after slumping by performing CPR,” Aje concluded.
The BBL programme is aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and seeks to promote public-private partnerships to address health challenges in Nigeria. The initiative aims to transform how Nigerians respond to cardiac emergencies, providing critical first aid that can save lives.
