The Taraba State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Thursday reiterated commitment toward giving priority to training and retraining of members on various aspects.
The Chairman of the chapel, Adamu Sadiq disclosed this during the training of 25 selected journalists on first aid organized by the Taraba office of the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
The training which took place at the Chapel’s Secretariat, Konko Plaza along FGGC road Jalingo, was aimed at equipping journalists with basic techniques of First Aid to victims of disaster they may come across in their course of duty.
It was also for them as journalists expected to disseminate the information to enlighten the public on the importance of first aid in the society.
Sadiq explained that training and retraining of members is one of the top priorities of the new EXCO of the chapel, adding that a five-day first aid intensive training would soon be organized in partnership with the Red Cross for the members.
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“Am very happy, you know, this is one of the things that we should be doing, training and retraining of our members should be our priority as a new EXCO, and this just the beginning. So I appreciate the gesture of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Taraba state Branch”. The Chairman stated.
According to him, the eye-opener training has enhanced the knowledge of the participants in providing first aid to members of the society.
The Chairman, however, in his words said: ” first aid is not restricted to the medical personnel alone, every member of the society suppose to know one or two things about providing help to a victim of either accident or heart attack or whatever incident that happens. People should be able to provide assistance to the victim before taking them to the hospital”.
Earlier in his address, Taraba state Branch Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Manja Martin said the training was part of activities to round off the 2020 world first aid day in the state.
He described the partnership between the Correspondents’ chapel and Red Cross as one of the major achievements of the organization in Taraba state and urged them for more publicity.
Also speaking during the presentation and demonstration on life-saving techniques, the Disaster Management Coordinator of the Red Cross, in the state Bello Buba Joda said proper handling of situations at home before taking the patient to the hospital would, at least, help in recovery.
He also stressed the need for every household to have a first aider so that the health facilities would not be overstretched as it is now.
Joda explained that the aim of first aid is to promote recovery, prevent the condition from becoming worst as well as preserve life.
“We know journalists are our partners in disaster management whenever it occurs because they are at the forefront and we are also first respondents in terms of giving first aid. So we expect wider dissemination of information on the importance of first aid to the general public” Joda said.
In an interview, one of the participants, Freda Lamini who is the state Correspondent of Africa Independent Television (AIT) commended the Nigerian Red Cross Society for organizing the training, saying it has exposed her to many new things concerning providing first aid to a victim.
“The workshop has thought me that when someone is in a very critical condition, probably after an accident naturally what first comes to mind is to take up that person and rush him to safety, but today I have learned that there certain positions that you are not supposed to put an injured person.
“I now understand that there are better positions that would aid a patient to recover fast and give better chances of surviving.”It has also thought me that everybody should at least know something about first aid because you don’t know what situation you would find yourself”.
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