And Why We Must Overcome Them
As a dedicated first aid trainer in Nigeria, I am passionate about empowering individuals and communities with essential knowledge and life-saving skills. I am also acutely aware of the unique challenges we face in educating individuals and communities about the life-saving principles of first aid.
Anywhere in the world, being ready for emergencies is essential, but in a country as diverse and dynamic as Nigeria, preparedness takes on unique dimensions. Even though each challenge might only have a little impact, first aid is not taken seriously as a learning or practice because of the existence of all of them.
I want to talk about some of the challenges we face in this piece and why finding solutions is essential to ensuring everyone's safety and survival.
1. Culture and Diversity
Nigeria's diverse cultural landscape shapes people's attitudes towards emergency and health. Due to this variability, it can occasionally be difficult to identify a universal strategy for first aid teaching that is acceptable to all cultures. Sensitivity to cultural differences and realizing that some customs or beliefs may affect how people react to emergencies is crucial while teaching first aid.
Addressing this challenge is made more difficult by the fact that the hours of contact for first aid training are not suited to exploring those sensitivities and breaking the barriers to learning. Building trust right away and adjusting the training to their level will help them feel comfortable sharing and asking questions.
2. Low Priority Status:
First aid training is often not given the priority it deserves. It is not uncommon to see organizations and individuals prioritize other types of training over first aid, which can have detrimental effects in emergencies. The general lack of knowledge of first aid practices and principles among Nigerians is unrelated to literacy, however, it does play a role. Many individuals don't know how important it is to perform basic first aid techniques and how they can save lives.
You cannot perform at your best in your work or tasks if you are ill or injured. What I find, and is most common, is first aid training is frequently neglected unless a medical emergency with serious consequences occurs.
3. Eroding Middle Class
Yes, first aid has costs – both the training and the tools (first aid kits). The shrinking Nigerian middle class can limit access to healthcare and essential resources, including first aid.
Addressing this disparity requires innovative solutions that consider economic realities.
Costs will always arise, so you must decide whether to spend money on treatment (taking care of the sick or injured) or prevention (first aid training & kits).
Aren’t prevention costs better than treatment costs?
4. Poor Access to Healthcare
Accessibility to healthcare facilities varies widely across Nigeria, particularly in rural areas. The emphasis must be on providing people with the knowledge and tools necessary for self-care and emergency community support because of this lack of access.
Conversely, the chain of survival suggests that the victim's ability to survive is impacted by any weakness in the chain. In certain situations, having first aid training might not be sufficient. To put it simply, getting to a hospital could be essential; as every link in the life-saving chain is important.
5. Lack of Emergency Medical Services (EMS):
Because Nigeria's emergency medical services are insufficiently robust, prompt medical attention during emergencies is not always assured. This highlights how crucial early care and bystander intervention are.
Calling for help—ideally emergency medical services—is a crucial component of first aid training because first aid is only intended for the initial few minutes, usually 10 to 15 minutes of care. The problem lies in the fact that Nigerians, even in situations where they are aware of it, are skeptical about employing it. A part of the training focuses on how to obtain healthcare despite the limitations that are in place.
6. Prevalent Traditional Remedies:
In Nigeria, home remedies and traditional medicine are widely used. Some may work, but others can be dangerous or cause you to put off getting medical attention. Due to these old folktales or myths, trainees frequently contest what you teach. It requires a skilled first aid trainer to sort and navigate these issues and bring trainees to the "light" to promote health and save lives.
First aid education has to include guidance on navigating these options.
7. Lack of Country-Specific Regulation:
There is a lack of specific regulations governing first aid training and trainers in Nigeria, which can lead to inconsistent quality and standards. Establishing clear guidelines and standards is essential for ensuring the effectiveness and safety of first-aid training suited to the Nigerian populace.
8. Obsession with Foreign First Aid Training:
The lack of regulations about trainings has resulted in a fixation with international first aid certification. Content that might not be directly pertinent to our local situation presents a hurdle. We are in Nigeria and we must concentrate on first aid topics that are appropriate to and useful for Nigerians. First Aid Training Providers end up having to pay a lot of money to meet the standards of these foreign or foreign-affiliated trainings, which is then passed on to the customers making it more expensive.
You must keep in mind that in the event of a medical emergency, Nigeria is where they would be treated; as such, first aid trainings should be adapted accordingly.
Conclusion
Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders and is vital to fostering a safer and more prepared Nigeria. As a first aid trainer and service provider, I am committed to playing my part in raising awareness, providing training, and ensuring that everyone has access to the tools and knowledge necessary to respond effectively in emergencies.
Dr. Oluwatosin Osikoya is the Founder of Levande Healthcare Company. With over 24 years in the healthcare industry, she lives by the adages “Prevention is better than cure” and “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail“. She has been training on First Aid since 2016.
Email: tosin(at)firstaidbylevande.com.ng