In its efforts to ensure safe, quality and efficient service delivery in the transport sector, the Enugu State government has commenced the training of officials of the Enugu State Traffic Management Authority, ESTMA, on the safety of road users in the cases of accidents and emergencies, declaring its intention to reduce the mortality rate in the state to the barest minimum.
Flagging off the training program at the Ministry of Transport headquarters on Monday, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Obi Ozor said the training involved the campaign for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and other technical training that will equip the officials to deal with issues regarding accidents and emergencies on the road.
According to him, the training was in partnership with the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters and his ministry to drill the officials, giving them intensive training on how best to save lives when the situation calls, stressing that this was the first time the staff of the ministry were undergoing such training since the history of their employments.
Ozor further admonished the trainees to see the training not just as a government initiative but one that will add importance to their career, saving the lives of their families and the society in general when the need arises.
"This campaign for the CPR and other necessary emergency trainings of the ESTMA officials are very important owing to the fact that they are usually the first responders on the road whenever there is any accident or emergency. This is part of the governor’s mandate that all the staff of the ministry on the road must be equipped to deal with emergencies that are may arise.
"These officials have never had this training since the history of their employments and we are training them in batches because there is no way we will pull all of them out of the road once. At the end of the training, they will be certified and this will help add values to their work. We will equally be doing a refresher course for them as time goes on," the Commissioner said.
Speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Dr. Yomi Jaye said that his office was collaborating with the Ministry of Transport to educate and inform those who represent the government, especially those from the ministry who work on the road as first responders and first aiders, certifying them to be able to provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for anyone who suddenly collapses and may be nearing cardiac arrest.
"This training is going to be renewed every two years. We are going to be doing a refresher course for them so that they will not forget all they have learnt. It is a practical training and we are ready to equip them with the tips to save lives", he said.
Dr. Jaye stressed that the Enugu State Government under Peter Mbah was committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of both the people of Enugu and those transiting the state since the state is a connection to the South and North.
"We are looking at fortifying our emergency response in Enugu such that the ambulances, defibrillator, first aid kits, etc, will be available as we have in the developed world. The trained officials shall become the first responders and first aiders. What that means is that these people will be able to help someone that has injury, burns, fainted, etc. The training is encompassing," Dr Jaye said.
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