RismadarVoice Reporters, August 25, 2026
The Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) has commenced a comprehensive training programme on Basic Cardiovascular Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) for healthcare professionals at the hospital.
The programme, which began on Monday, August 24, 2026, is aimed at strengthening the hospital’s emergency response capacity and equipping clinical personnel with current, evidence-based resuscitation skills to help reduce preventable deaths.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chief Medical Director of RSUTH, Prof. Chizindu A. Alikor, described BCLS and ACLS as essential competencies for healthcare workers.
He stressed that medical emergencies could occur without warning and that having adequately trained personnel could determine whether a patient survives.
According to him, continuous training and retraining are necessary to ensure that healthcare workers remain proficient in emergency care and that the hospital maintains an effective resuscitation system.
Prof. Alikor also commended the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, for his advocacy and support for the development of RSUTH.
Declaring the training open, Dr Wachukwu shared a personal experience in which his knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) helped save the life of an air hostess who collapsed during a flight.
He said the experience demonstrated that resuscitation skills could become critical at any time and in any environment.
The Permanent Secretary assured the hospital that the Ministry of Health, working with the RSUTH management, was putting structures and resources in place to sustain and improve healthcare delivery.
He urged participants to take the training seriously, noting that nobody could predict when an emergency requiring resuscitation would occur.
In a goodwill message, Dr Lawson Ndu commended the Accident and Emergency Department and RSUTH management for their commitment to improving emergency care.
He advocated continued advancement in resuscitation medicine through BCLS and ACLS, as well as consideration of advanced interventions such as Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).
The Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department, Dr Ovundah Nyeche, also highlighted the importance of immediate CPR, citing the successful revival of a footballer who collapsed during a match.
In his closing remarks, Dr Wachukwu tasked the hospital management, heads of departments and programme coordinators with ensuring that the training meets the highest standards.
He said participants should leave the programme with the knowledge and practical skills required to strengthen emergency and resuscitation services across RSUTH.
The training brought together consultants, resident doctors, nurses, senior management staff and other healthcare professionals from various departments of the hospital.
