The Association of Resident Doctors, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (ARD-UATH), Gwagwalada, says it has trained 237 law enforcement officers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT )on how to handle accident emergency victims.
The beneficiaries of the training are from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and men of the Directorate of Road Traffic Service (DRTS), all from the Gwagwalada Command of the FCT.
The association disclosed this on Friday in Abuja.
The association also disclosed that the training also came along with free medical services to enable the officers have a good state of mind while carrying out their duty.
Reacting to the training and medical outreach, Dr. Adams Egwakhide, the Chief of Staff/Chairman, Committee on Special Duties, ARD-UATH said the training started on Wednesday June 18 and came to an end on Friday June 20.
Egwakhide said that the decision to carry out the exercise was informed by the recognition that men in service often face unique health challenges and barriers to accessing timely care due to the demanding nature of their jobs.
According to him, Many prioritised their work over their own health and sometimes it gets to the extent of complications before they begin to take action.
He explained that the outreach was the association way of bringing essential health services directly to the officers, raising awareness, and encouraging early detection and treatment.
Egwakhide noted that it was also way of showing appreciation for dedication to serving the association community, adding that the exercise was also to foster a working and synergistic relationship with the officers in service.
“This partnership is essential in building mutual trust and opening the lines of communication between resident doctors and their colleagues in other government agencies within Gwagwalada Abuja.
“The primary aim of the outreaches was to promote the health and wellbeing of men in service through health education, capacity building and screening for common diseases.
“Our main objectives was to provide free health checks and consultations, raise awareness about common health issues affecting men and women such as hypertension, breast and cervical cancer, viral hepatitis and others.
“It is also to encourage them about lifestyle changes and regular follow-up, foster trust, partnership and co-operation between ARD-UATH and other government institutions,” he said.
Egwakhide disclosed that in the nearest future, the outreach would be to marketplaces, schools, churches, orphanages and other government agencies within the Gwagwalada axis and other underserved areas, where people might not have easy access to regular healthcare.
According to him, for this to be possible, the association hope to collaborate with other institutions and stakeholders like the Gwagwalada area council and some NGOs.
He said that feedback from the training and medical outreach had been overwhelmingly positive from the beneficiaries, where many of them expressed their gratitude for the convenience and care provided.
Egwakhide stated that some of the beneficiaries disclosed that it was their first time undergoing some of the screening test like Hepatitis B, adding that the most rewarding part was how the personnel welcomed the exercise and how enthusiastic they were.
Speaking also, Dr. Adewale-Premiere Adeleye, the President ARD-UATH, expressed his delight about the programme, saying that the exercise had sealed the collaborative and partnership aim with law enforcement agencies in Gwagwalada.
He stressed that he was particularly happy about the gesture that coming during his own tenure and that it was coming at the time the synergy was mostly needed.
“It is my utmost joy that we are able to build the capacity of these service men on. How to Handle Accident/Unconscious Victims” and some form of basic life support techniques as first responder during accident.
“I also think this is necessary especially now that we are battling with Human Capital Flight (The Japa Syndrome) in the Health sector, I feel those who have chosen to stay back in the country and practice as doctors should not encounter any encumbrance on the road either going for call or returning home from their respective duties.
“Like I told the service bosses, an average Nigerian Resident Doctor is a Law abiding citizen. I am happy that we are able to make impact as an association by giving back to the society and the community we belong,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 80 officers of the FRSC, 117 of the NPF and 40 DRTS were the beneficiaries.