The Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) says it will train the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) personnel on Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to curb cardiac arrest among travellers.
Dr Enitan Ademuson, the NHF’s Director of Programmes, disclosed this at the foundation’s commemoration of the World Heart Day 2024 on Monday in Lagos.
Ademuson, who noted that the step was part of the activities to mark this year’s event, said that the training would be carried out in collaboration with some of the NHF’s partners.
“There are too many reports about travellers slumping at the airports and dying, when we know that in other countries they probably would not die.
“What we did last year was to provide an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), which is the machine that is used if there’s a cardiac arrest, a passenger who slumps.
“Once that is available and the people know how to use it, it is just a matter of putting the machine to the chest and then you stimulate the heart again.
“And within seconds, the person who otherwise would have died would live. We have a high traffic of movement in and out of the country. Both national and foreign passengers go through our airports.
“Nigerian Heart Foundation within the World Heart Month celebrated every year, will be training the FAAN staff in Lagos on Cardio- Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and on the use of Automated Electrocardiogram Defibrillators (AED),” he said.
The director recalled that the AED was donated to the organisation as one of the activities to commemorate World Heart Day 2023.
Speaking on the 2024 World Heart Day theme, “Use Heart for Action”, Ademuson said it was to raise awareness about the worldʼs leading cause of death, Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs).
“This yearʼs theme is a clarion call to inspire meaningful, urgent action to protect and improve heart health worldwide.
“Cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of more than 20.5 million people annually, accounting for over 30 per cent of global deaths.
“The burden of heart disease touches every family, community, and country, yet much of this suffering is preventable through education, lifestyle changes, and policy reforms.
“The goal is to support individuals to care for their heart and empower them to urge leaders to take Cardiovascular Health seriously by providing a global platform for action.
“The action must be deliberate to make for impactful execution of efforts which highlights a shift from awareness to empowering with a clear purpose and goal,” he said.
According to him, the two- way nature of action will be efforts to influence policies and advocate for behavioral changes and physical activity.
Calling for sustained efforts and collaboration, the director said that the theme urged each Nigerian as individuals, healthcare professionals, policymakers, or organisations, to act in ways that protect their hearts and the hearts of those around them.
He urged individual Nigerian to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle by managing risk factors like unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and smoking.
The director said that small changes, such as regular exercise and a balanced diet, could significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.
According to Ademuson healthcare providers must be committed to educating patients about preventive measures, early detection, and treatment options.
He said for concerted efforts to towards strengthening heart health initiatives within clinics and hospitals is key to saving lives.
The director called on governments and policymakers to ensure implementation of robust public health policies.
He said that such policies should encourage heart-healthy environments, reduce health inequities, and provide access to essential healthcare services.
For corporations and organisations, Ademuson advised promotion of heart health within workplaces and communities.
He said that this could be done by encouraging wellness programmes, raising awareness, and supporting cardiovascular research and innovation.
According to him, taking action together, we can reduce the global burden and national scourge of CVDs such as; stroke, cardiac arrest and heart attack.
He said that this would help create a future where heart disease is no longer the leading cause of death.
Also speaking, Mr Dele Adetiba, NHF’s Director of Communications, urged media practitioners to use their various platforms for awareness and education on heart health.
Mr Adesanjo Oyejide, Senior Brand Manager, Three Crowns, urged Nigerians to be intentional and deliberate about their food choices for healthy heart.