Nasarawa Trains 40 Health Workers and Drivers on Community First Aid Under World Bank–Supported RESMAT Programme

Lafia, Nasarawa state - The Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Bank–supported Impact Program on Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport (RESMAT), has commenced a three-day Community First Aid and Emergency Response training for frontline health workers and emergency drivers.

The pilot training, held in Lafia, brought together 30 health workers and 10 drivers selected from Lafia and Karu Local Government Areas. It is aimed at building the capacity of responders who form the first link in the chain of survival during emergencies, particularly for pregnant women and other vulnerable groups.

According to the organizers, the initiative aligns with ongoing efforts under the Nigeria Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) and the state’s commitment to reducing maternal and newborn mortality through timely, coordinated, and skilled emergency response.

Participants were trained on essential first aid procedures, basic life support, patient assessment, management of common emergency conditions, and safe transport of victims — with a strong emphasis on maternal emergencies such as postpartum hemorrhage, obstructed labour, and hypertensive crises. Emergency drivers also received specialized instruction on communication, referral protocols, and safety standards for maternal transport.

Officials noted that this pilot phase serves as a foundation for scaling up the training across all 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State, ensuring that health workers and emergency drivers statewide are equipped with the competencies required to stabilize patients before they reach a facility.

The Ministry of Health emphasized that strengthening community-level emergency response is essential to improving survival outcomes, especially in rural communities where timely access to care remains a challenge. The collaboration with the World Bank through RESMAT demonstrates the state’s commitment to innovative, evidence-based approaches for safeguarding mothers, newborns, and the general public.

Once fully scaled, the programme is expected to significantly enhance the effectiveness of NEMSAS operations, reduce preventable deaths, and improve public confidence in emergency and maternal care services across Nasarawa State.