ATP SCHOOLS FIRST AID CARE PROJECT

Following the pilot phase of the ATP Schools First Aid Care Project in 2023, where we reached 25 secondary schools in twenty states across Nigeria, we continued to reach more secondary schools, distributing ATP First Aid Care Tips Cards to all the students and desktop calendars to the staff for theur rooms.

In the first quarter of 2024, we reached  additionals schools  in eight States which are: Kwara State, Cross River State, Lagos State, Imo State, Akwa Ibom State, Oyo State, Adamawa State, and FCT Abuja.

Here is a brief review of the outreaches: 

KWARA STATE

An ATP team of nine (9) volunteers led by David Abiola Juliet, visited ECWA Senior Secondary, Oja Iya, Ilorin on 21^st February, 2024. They were privileged to address the students on the assembly ground. A total of 311 students were in attendance. A health talk was given by the anchor while other volunteers distributed the pamphlets/desk calendars and ensured that the students were cooperative.  After the talk, questions were posed by the anchor to which the students responded adequately.  Corrections were also made where necessary. In all, it was reported that the outreach was a success.

 FCT ABUJA

The FAC outreach was held on 29^th February, 2024 at Girls' Government Secondary School Dutsen Alhaji by ATP FCT volunteers, led by Arit Obitor. A total of 2,200 students participated in the health talk and due to the large number of students present, the materials available were insufficient. However, the outreach in all, was a success.

 CROSS RIVER

ATP Cross River State held an outreach on 8^th March, 2024 at Government Secondary School, Atu, Calabar South, Cross River State, led by Edima Akonjom and a total of 214 students were in attendance. A total of 214 students were reached with the First Aid Card Tips, with 14 Teachers. The school expressed their appreciation to the coordinator for the health tips and the First Aid Cards which will be helpful in cases of emergency and the wrong steps to avoid and the right steps to take. They were happy they were enlightened and had to unlearned a lot of wrong practices like pouring eggs on injury victims of hot water burn.

 LAGOS STATE

Outreaches were carried out in three (3) secondary schools in Lagos. The first outreach was to Dolphin Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi, and the second to Ogombo Community Junior High School, Ogombo, Ajah on 11^th March, 2024, led by Dr Rotimi Adesanya. Both outreaches were well attended and the volunteers were warmly welcomed. The lecture was focused on first aid and CPR and practical demonstration was shown to the students. For both of these outreaches, approximately 1,200 students were in attendance.

The third outreach was to Government Senior Secondary School, Victoria Island, led by Oluwabusola Temmy Osoba, on 12^th March, 2024. The outreach was well attended as a total number of 173 students were present. The principal and staff were also supportive.  ATP leaflets were distributed in each classroom while students were selected from all levels to a particular class where the lectures took place. First Aid lecture was given and demonstration done for the students. Overall, the three outreaches were reported as successful.

IMO STATE

ATP Imo led by Amarachi Madubuko, carried out an outreach to Owerri City School, Imo State on 6^th March, 2024. They were able to reach approximately 2,000 students. The health talk was conducted in the school hall. The outreach was reported to be a success.

AKWA IBOM STATE

An outreach was carried out at Excellence College, Ikot Unya, Mkpat Enin on 6^th March, 2024 led by Mary Umoh. FAC cards were distributed to students and first aid items were also donated to their first aid box. They also had a brief health talk on basic first aid and showed them how to use the FAC cards. A total of 287 students were in attendance. 287 FAC cards, 5 calendars and items for first aid box like gloves, wiping alcohol, sanitizer, bandages, plaster, kidney dish with scissors, gauze, paracetamol, gentian violet, etc were distributed. It was reported as a success.

 OYO STATE

Outreaches were carried out in two schools within the state on 19^th March, 2024 as follows:

ATP Oyo volunteers led by Hamidat Atere-Akeukereke visited Monatan High School. They engaged the students during their assembly time explaining first aid care and carrying out practical demonstrations where applicable.  The questions asked by the children were equally addressed and a first aid box was donated to the school. About 900 students were in attendance.

The second outreach was a visit to Monatan Secondary School. At the school, First Aid Care cards were distributed to the students and a brief explanation on it. The school was also presented with a first aid box. About 1,100 students were in attendance. The school really appreciated the visit and observed that the knowledge imparted was not just for the students but the teachers also benefited maximally.

ADAMAWA STATE

On 5^th April, 2024 a team ATP Adamawa volunteers led by Maryam Yakubu visited G.D.S.S Hammawa-Toungo Government Day Secondary School, Yola South. An health talk was conducted and the subject was drug abuse, the causes and the effects it has on people especially the youth in North East Nigeria. Both English and Hausa languages were used to ensure effective communication and better comprehension by the students. A few questions were also taken from the students and answered. First Aid care tips pamphlets were also distributed to the students. About 200 students were in attendance. The outreach was reported as a success.

We look forward to reaching more students and schools with your continual support.

We are excited to bring to you the first report of the pilot phase of our ATP Schools First Aid Care Project that started in the last quarter of 2023. The aim of this project was to empower 1 million Nigerian Students annually with basic knowledge of first aid care for common medical emergencies. We aimed to do this by providing access to online course on what to do for the most common medical emergencies as well as empower the students with customized ATP First Aid Care Tips cards to serve as quick reminder aide. We also provide the schools with larger calendar versions of the same information.

The knowledge of First Aid Care will ensure the students know what to do to prevent deaths in such emergencies at schools and homes. We also believe the families of students will be indirect beneficiaries as students share the First Aid Care messages with their families at home.

We successfully launched the project in October 2023 despite some challenges mostly the bureaucratic process of obtaining permission from the Ministry of Education of some states and the schools. We are however excited with the warm acceptance of the project by the school communities we have visited so far in Nigeria that has been quite encouraging. We are also excited to see the interest in the online version that has over hundred enrolments so far.

In the last three months, we have had the First Aid Care Project Outreach in twenty states in Nigeria reaching 25 secondary schools and thousands of students. We have distributed almost a hundred thousand first aid care booklets and a thousand calendars to the schools visited. The response from the schools visited have been warm with many more schools showing interest as well.

The breakdown of the States and schools visited with short summaries from the respective chapter team lead is detailed below:

Kwara State

Our team of volunteers visited three schools on the 8^th November 2023: Mandate Senior Secondary School, Adeta, Ilorin, St. James CAC Senior Secondary School, New Yidi Rd, Ilorin and Bishop's Smith Senior Secondary School, Ilorin where we reached 700, 350 and 650 students respectively in the schools. Abiola David, the Kwara Team lead reported that the students assembled on the Assembly ground and the volunteers shared the first aid tips with the students with practical examples. The first aid care tip booklets were then distributed to the students and the school management were given the first aid care table calendar (5 each). The students had opportunity to test their knowledge of the First Aid Care tips via a short quiz.

Ekiti State

ATP Ekiti visited Ado community secondary school and Mary Hill Secondary Schools on the 1^st November 2023. The Team Lead, Bukola Raji reported that they reached 3501 students to whom they shared the FAC booklets and calendars after giving a short health talk on the First Aid Care. The team reported that they had a very successful outreach.

Gombe State

ATP Gombe visited Tumfure Government junior secondary school adjacent AYM Shafa filling station Akko L.G.A Gombe State on the 11^th November 2023. The Team Lead, Burak Danjuma reported that they reached 534 students. The students were in their classrooms when our team arrived at the school. The reception was cordial. ATP volunteers were paired to each class. The team did a short first Aids talk before sharing the FAC Tips booklets. The students listened attentively and responded appropriately.  The students and teachers were very excited and grateful. We distributed 600 FAC booklets and calendars.

Akwa Ibom State

ATP volunteers of Akwa Ibom State Chapter visited Government Secondary Etoi, Uyo LGA on November 9, 2023 for the maiden edition of ATP First Aid Care Schools Project. Team Lead, Mary Umoh reported that we visited with a fully stocked first aid kits including 4000 FAC booklets and 5 FAC calendars. The team did a health talk on basic First aid care emphasising the meaning of First aid and why it is Important. The team then distributed the FAC booklets to all the students in school. The first aid box and calendars were presented to the principal for the staff and students use. In all, one first aid Box, 5 FAC calendars and 3,047 FAC booklets were given to the school. The management appreciated our visit and noted that it was timely and very necessary. An important question that came up was that of many students going to school hungry without breakfast and some students faint in school from the hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemia has been addressed in our First Aid Care Tips but perhaps the government may want to address the issue of free school meals.  

Ogun State

ATP Ogun visited Methodist High School, Ogbe, Abeokuta, Ogun State on the 22^nd November 2023. The team lead, Julianah Ajayi reported that the team met with the Principals of both Junior and Senior Schools first after which the students were assembled in the Assembly Hall. One of the volunteers gave a short introduction of ATP and the coordinator gave a short talk on First Aid Care and its importance. The students were taken through examples of the first aid steps the student can take for some emergencies at home, school, market place etc. At the end of the talk, the students were presented with the booklets and the Principals were given the FAC Calendars. Overall, 850 FAC booklets and 5 calendars were shared to the school.

Kano State

ATP Kano visited Ahmadiyya College Kwanan Jaba bus stop in Kano on the 1^st December 2023. The team gave a short health talk on First Aid Care and distributed 1750 FAC booklets to the students. The team lead, Rabi Abdullahi reported that the students and the teachers fed back that they learnt a lot and pleaded for ATP to come back again soon.

 Zamfara State

ATP Zamfara visited the Government Girls day Secondary school Samaru Gusau in Zamfara state on the 6^th December 2023. The Team Lead, Maimuna Muawiya reported they had a successful outreach and reached more than 1100 students. The outreach was well received by and majority of the students were keenly following along during the outreach with the principal, vice principal and many teachers present.  The team shared 1100 FAC booklets and 12 calendars to the students and management of the school.

Oyo State

ATP Oyo visited the Oladipo Alayande School of Science, Oke Bola, Ibadan on the 6^th December 2023. The Team Lead, Hamidat Atere-Akeukereke reported that they reached 1500 students. The volunteers educated the students and teachers on the importance of first aid care. They explained the basic interventions for different categories of medical emergencies and allowed students to demonstrate some steps they will take for some emergencies. The team distributed the FAC booklets and calendars to the students and teachers respectively. In addition, a first aid kit was donated to the School.

Kebbi State

The ATP Volunteers at Kebbi visited the Government Girls (Comprehensive) Secondary School, Argungu Kebbi State on the 5^th December 2023. The Team Lead, Nr Hassan Lawal Argungu reported that the outreach lasted about 1hour and 50minutes in which the team of volunteers sensitized the students and their teachers about the First aid care to render in case of selected emergencies before seeking medical attention or taking the victim to the hospital. The presentation came with demonstration for easy understanding of the students. The outreach was successful without any problem encountered. The team distributed 2030 FAC booklets to the students and 3 FAC calendars to the teachers.

Anambra State

The Anambra volunteers visited Ado Girls' Secondary School Onitsha, Anambra State on the 8^th December 2023. Team lead, Njaka Obiamaka Favour reported that they reached 2500 students to whom they shared the FAC booklets and five FAC calendars.

FCT Abuja

The FCT team visited the GSS NYANYA on the 10^th November 2023. The Team Lead, Arit Obitor reported that they reached 500 students to whom they shared 500 FAC booklets and donated five FAC calendars to the school management.

Bauchi State

The ATP Bauchi volunteers visited Dangikka Secondary School, Liman Mahmud Street,Bauchi Bauchi on the 21^st November 2023. The Team Lead, Fatima Isa reported that they reached 2337 with the FAC booklets and gave 5 FAC calendars to the teachers.

Ondo State

ATP Volunteers in Ondo visited Ijo Mimo Oluwa High School, Ijoka Akure Ondo State on the 17^th November 2023. The Team Lead, Olayinka Lucy Cosmas reported that the outreach went well. The team was well received though the turnout was not as expected because students were not fully in school as it was a day after the general strike was called off. The team reached 620 students to whom they shared FAC booklets and calendars.

Plateau State

The ATP Plateau visited Rotnoro Government Day secondary school and Mercy seat international academy in November 2023. The Team Lead, Dorcas Bakari reported that the two outreaches were successful. The last outreach was mind blowing because both teachers and students learn about first aid care. They were happy and even request for more. The team distributed 250 FAC booklets to the students.

Osun State

ATP Osun State Chapter visited Methodist High School, Ilesa, Osun State on the 14^th November 2023. The Team Lead, Christianah Adelodun reported that the volunteers educated the students and teachers about the use of the FAC booklets and calendars as aide memoire on steps to take for common medical emergencies. The team reached 806 students who were all given individual copies of the FAC booklets and calendars were shared with the teachers as well.

Enugu State

ATP Enugu State Chapter visited St Paul's Group of Schools Achara Layout Enugu on the 7^th December 2023. The Team Lead Chioma MaryRose Arum reported that the team gave a health talk to the students at the Assembly ground. We educated them on the said First Aid Care treatment of common medical emergencies. The team reached 1500 students to whom they shared the FAC booklets and 5 FAC calendars were given to the school. The school management were happy with the ATP visit and welcomed the team enthusiastically. They expressed their gratitude to the entire ATP foundation globally and to the founder especially.

Abia State

ATP Abia State visited Ibeku high school, Umuahia, Abia State on the 30^th November 2023. The Team lead, Ogechi Ezeh reported that the outreach was a success. The school gave the team a warm welcome and gathered the students during their recession for the short health talk on First Aid care. The team of volunteers then shared 3000 FAC booklets to all the students as well as gave the FAC calendars to the teachers.

Benue State

ATP Benue visited Gaddi Comprehensive College, Benue on the 21^st November 2023. Grace Odeh, Team Lead reported that they reached 138 students with the FAC booklets and calendars.

Adamawa State

ATP Adamawa team visited Government Day Secondary school Old GRA Jimeta on the 21^st November 2023. The Team lead, Samira Dahiru Aliyu reported that they reached 1200 students with the FAC booklets and gave the FAC calendars to the staff.

Cross River State

ATP Cross River State visited two schools – Government Secondary School, Barracks Road Calabar and Estate Secondary School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar in November 2023. The team did a health talk, shared the FAC booklets to the students, and donated the FAC calendars to the staff as well.

Overall, despite the initial bottleneck of bureaucracy and logistics in getting the materials to the various locations, we are happy the project has started and the reception has been wonderful. Our vision is to get to all the secondary schools in Nigeria. We have spent over 7 million naira producing the materials and sharing them to the schools and we still have a long way to go. We will appreciate the support of everyone including the ministries of education in all the states as well as generous donations and partnerships to achieve this vision over the next five years. We will keep you all updated and faithfully account for all the donations received.

Links:

• ATP FIRST AID CARE TIPS (ONLINE COURSE)
• FACEBOOK PHOTO ALBUMS
• ATP Annual News Magazines

• E-copy of the ATP FAC booklet (PDF)