UK charity expands emergency preparedness training across Nigeria

A UK-based charity is working to bolster Nigeria's emergency response capabilities by equipping citizens with vital first-aid skills and providing essential medical equipment.

NaijAidUK, operating in Nigeria as HealthAid Charity, has trained more than 3,000 healthcare professionals and 5,000 members of the public in first aid and emergency response since its establishment in 2015. The organization also donates medical equipment and supports the professional development of healthcare workers.

Central to their strategy is a "train-the-trainer" model, which Dr. Lanre Nehan-Babalola, CEO and Founding Trustee, describes as the most sustainable way to build preparedness. This approach empowers trained individuals to then teach others, creating a ripple effect within communities, schools, and workplaces.

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One of our most impactful programmes is the train-the-trainer model. Students and community members receive first aid training and return to teach others.

This model has shown impact through partnerships, such as the first-aid training provided to 70 students at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, funded by NaijAidUK. These students were trained by a winning team from a previous competition, receiving both theoretical and practical instruction, along with first aid kits.

Nehan-Babalola's motivation stemmed from witnessing firsthand the challenges within Nigeria's healthcare system in 2015. She observed dedicated medical staff working under difficult conditions, their efforts hampered by a lack of adequate equipment, which inspired her to establish the charity.

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I saw how dedicated Nigerian doctors and nurses were, but their impact was limited by a lack of equipment. That experience motivated me to act.