The Enugu State Government, in collaboration with the College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), on Monday held a lecture on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to boost the chances of survival in cases of accident and emergency situations resulting from the increasing rate of cardiovascular diseases.
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The lecture, which was entitled “The Menace of Sudden Death in Our Society: What Can We Do?”, was held at the International Conference Center (ICC), Enugu, to equip first responders with the skills and hands-on techniques to render immediate assistance (CPR) to individuals who may collapse or suffer cardiac arrest or other life-threatening situations.
In his address, the Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, said that the program aligns with the state’s relentless efforts to build a good healthcare system, making it a health tourism destination for the people of Africa.
Mbah, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said that his administration has adopted a holistic approach, which is not limited to the four walls of the hospital but extends to all developmental indices aimed at ensuring zero poverty, so that healthy people can be productive and generate wealth.
He said that the state government, under his administration, is already building 260 Type-2 healthcare facilities that will enable people to access quality healthcare without travelling long distances, maintaining that there is a monumental reorganization, reordering, and improvement in all healthcare structures in Enugu State.
“We want to make Enugu a health tourism destination. That is why my administration is building the 300-bed capacity Enugu International Hospital to take care of the health needs of our people. Our people will no longer need to travel overseas for medical treatments. Enugu is going to be a model of excellence. We are not trying to be at par with other states; we want to be at the top. This training will be replicated at the grassroots because we want to be saving lives,” Mbah said.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Yomi Jaye, noted that statistics had shown that 92% of those who collapse usually die before getting to the hospital, stating that the application of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation can double their chances of survival.
He regretted that the majority of health officials are not knowledgeable about CPR, and those who may claim to know about it do not know how to apply it correctly.
While citing the British Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, he reported that the knowledge and practice of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is directly proportional to the survival rate of cardiac arrest victims.
“The story of Bolton Wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba would have been the same as that of Sam Okwaraji of the Super Eagles if not for the prompt action of people with CPR knowledge and skills. Both had cardiac arrest, and when such happens, the blood flowing to the brain becomes very slow and sluggish because the heart has stopped. By then, acid builds up and begins to damage the brain, turning the situation into a ticking time bomb. What we need to do at such times is to start effective chest compressions,” Dr Jaye said.
He further stressed that the lecture would be cascaded down to the grassroots, where the governor has also been building Type-2 Healthcare Centres across the 260 political wards, stating that everyone, both health personnel and the public, will be trained on the application of CPR.
A Professor of Cardiology, as well as the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu, Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel Ike, who was one of the speakers at the event, lamented the increasing rate of sudden death in developing countries like Nigeria, stating that there is an urgent need for intervention to curtail the menace.
He stated that there’s an increasing trend in non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and unhealthy lifestyles like consuming junk food and other preserved foods, noting that what people consume has a direct impact on their health.
The professor encouraged people to imbibe the habit of exercising and reduce their intake of junk food and other substances that are harmful to their health.
“Approximately 80% of sudden deaths in Nigeria take place at home, and around half of them are witnessed. That’s why we should know what to do in such situations to save lives so that the rate can reduce, just like in developed countries. At UNTH, a study conducted a few years ago showed that sudden death constituted 13% of all autopsies. Hypertensive heart failure, which is a further complication of hypertension, contributes to nearly 75% of all cardiac-related deaths,” he said.
He further admonished participants to learn CPR skills to save lives when the need arises.
In his remark, the Vice Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okorie, while lauding Governor Mbah’s achievements in the health and education sectors, said that Enugu is on its path to excellence.
He assured that the university is committed to maintaining its lead and ensuring that quality education is imparted, which will have a significant influence on society, as the wealth of a nation lies not in its solid or mineral resources, but in the education of its people.