Abia Launches First Aid Training for School Caregivers to Enhance Child Safety
ABIA – The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Ikechukwu Oriuwa has enjoined parents and School Caregivers to adopt preventive measures to ensure the safety of Children/Wards under their care.
Mr Oriuwa who gave the advice at St Paul’s International School Umuahia as part of activities to mark this year’s World First Aid Day Celebration, said that the measure will curtail incidents of accident, injury or unforeseen circumstances relating to health issues.
The Permanent Secretary represented by the Deputy Director Inspectorate in the Ministry, Mrs. Rosemary Kalu, said that the training is designed to emphasize the need for first aid education in the school system and commended the Governor, Dr Alex Otti for his avowed commitment to the education and health care needs of Abia Children.
Speaking, the State Coordinator, World Health Organization, Dr Alkase Jibrin represented by the State Focal Person, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response, Dr Umoren Ibanga, and a Resource Person, Mr. Daniel Amadi, described the Sensitization as timely, pointing out that the training will further equip the participants on emergency response as well as best approach to combat accident occurrences.
In his address, the Convener of the program who is also a Health Promotion Officer, Ministry of Health, Pastor Samuel Mpama said that the training is designed to educate the participants with relevant skills, techniques on how to provide immediate first aid assistance to accident victims.
In an interview, some of the students including the Senior Prefect, St Paul’s International School, Master Stephen Okpanku, Miss Peace Echebiri of Jofavour International Academy and Miss Deborah Peter of Methodist Girls High School Umuahia said that the training has further provided them with more insight on safety precautions and promised to utilize the knowledge they acquired during the Sensitization program.
The Sensitization program which featured questions and answers session also attracted the presence of Management of the Ministry of Health and Representatives of schools across the state.