By Cleopatra Eki
Concerned about the growing anxiety, high incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as heart attack, cardiac arrest, and the attendant fatalities among Nigerians in recent years.
Seplat Energy Plc, leading indigenous energy company, recently partnered with Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) to build the capacity of secondary school students on CPR and First Aid skills necessary to handle prehospital emergencies. This initiative underscores the company’s social impact objective of making a difference through youth empowerment and became imperative.
Similarly, the menace of Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) and other traumatic injuries is mind-boggling. To substantiate this problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that RTA is the biggest killer of young people, especially in Nigeria and third world countries.
Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Seplat Energy Plc, Dr Chioma Nwachukwu, stated that Seplat is committed to empowering the youths and touching lives, which explains why it keyed into the lifesaving initiative at the flag-off the 4-day programme held in Lagos,
According to her, “CPR and First Aid skills are needed by all and critical to saving lives during prehospital emergencies”. She also urged other corporate organizations and individuals to adopt this laudable CSR initiative by sponsoring more students, pointing out that HEI has a proven track record in transparency, accountability and project implementation. Finally, she assured of increased collaboration with HEI towards expanding the footprint of its lifesaving initiatives.
Also speaking at the event, the representative of the Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, Mr. Ashaola Femi, applauded Seplat Energy Plc for the huge investment in young talents. He acknowledged that the scheme could create systemic change from the current negative culture of taking pictures and videos at the scene of emergencies instead of assisting the victims. He noted that it was this noble objective that informed the approval of the programme by the Ministry of Education for HEI to train all senior secondary school students in Lagos earlier in the year.
In his speech, the Executive Director of Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), Paschal Achunine, expressed profound gratitude to Seplat Energy Plc for the huge support. He praised the company for its commitment to the sustainability of its operating environment, bearing in mind that any investment in young people would translate to business continuity.
While equally appreciating the goodwill of the Lagos State Government, Achunine noted that a total of 83 students, across 30 Secondary Schools, from the six Educational Districts in the State, participated in the programme.
He added that First Responders Clubs would be set up in the schools, in line with the ‘Train the Trainer’ model of the scheme. Similarly, activities such as essay competition, quiz and debates would be instituted in the schools, to foster a lifesaving culture in the State.
