By PRISCA SAM DURU

Last week at the Civic Centre,Flying Doctors Nigeria Ltd, West Africa’s first air ambulance service, launched a health care book on how to manage emergency situations in Africa titled, “Emergency Pre-Hospital Care for Africa”, written by the organisation’s Managing Director, Dr. Ola Orekunrin.

The event, in spite of the fact that it employed completely different features and proceedure from those usually adopted during book presentations, had a touch of class and glamour. It was all about making sure every single individual irrespective of tribe or class, gets adequate attention; after an incidence, while in transit and eventually when the victim gets to the hospital.

And the organisers made sure that at the end of the programme, guests left the venue, with one thing uppermost in mind which is, to help save a life anytime and  anywhere.

Beyond the glamour and ambiance of the occasion, Dr Ola who is also a helicopter pilot, assured people that Flying Doctors which has empowered over 50 individuals with necessary skills to administer pre-hospital treatment to accident, cardiac arrest victims and other emergency situations as well as the publication of her book, are for all Nigerians and Africans emphasising that “Pre-hospital care is a fundamental human right and not a privilege”

Very spectacular features of the launch which attracted representatives from oil companiessuch as Oando, NNPC, SHELL, INTELS etc, and Nigerian Police Force, Road Safety Commission, NIMASA, NEMA, health practitioners, parents of the celebrant; Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana etc, were a documentary film and panel discussions.

While the documentary film was the project of Flying Doctors that chronicles some of the intervention works already done by the organisation in additon to pictures showing fatal accident  victims and gory scenes, the panel which was divided into two sessions, engaged experts in charting a way forward  in the area of adding value to people’s lives.

The first session had 5 representatives from the participating companies, brainstorming on how accident victims can receive better care prior to their arrival at the hospital as well as challenges undermining their efforts so far.

They were unanimous in the challenges enumerated which ranged from lack of skill, communication, transport( motorable roads, lack of helicopters and heavy traffic in most cities), and equipment. Lack of skill, was noted as being responsible for the death of so many Nigerians who die before getting to the hospitals  hence, the need for medicals to articulate a policy to be taken to government and private sector for a change. They also, submitted that Nigeria needs model training centres to train health personnel.

The approach to saving victims before they get to the hospital they insisted must be multidisciplinary which should involve, the Police, Road Safety, LATSMA, etc.

After all said and done, Dr. Ola stated that besides the fact that providing pre-hospital care requires the collaborative efforts of the government, private sector and the non-profit community, her book will help bring about the needed change.

In addition to all the stated challenges, Simon Parker from INTELS made a starting revelation.

It centred on care for a worker who suddenly slumps on duty.His revelation was that most workers, are afraid that they might lose their jobs if they fail tests and so, run away from getting tested periodically, to be sure they are fit enough to carry out their obligation.