The Medical Centre, University of Lagos, Akoka, has organised a sensitisation programme for the institution’s community on the need to have regular check-up in order to detect any ailment or disease early in order to avoid sudden death.
The programme, which was part of the annual health week of the university, was aimed at creating awareness among students, lecturers and immediate communities of the institution on the common causes of sudden death.
Welcoming participants to the event, the Medical Director of the university, Mrs. Ramota Apampa, said the theme of the health week, ‘Sudden death-Way out’ was chosen because the year witnessed a few incidents of sudden death among staff and students, stressing that some of the deaths could have been prevented if the victims and people around them were aware of the tell-tale signs.
“The Medical Centre is of the opinion that empowering the community with the knowledge of how to recognise the warning signs will help in averting future occurences of sudden death in the community,” she
said.
Pointing out other efforts by the centre to stem the tide of untimely death in the institution, Apampa said the management of the university approved Basic Emergency Response Training for 50 non-medical staff across various departments in the university.
The training, according to her, if continued at least quarterly over the next few years, will provide a core of first responders to handle emergencies in the various departments, thereby saving lives.
On drug testing for fresh students in the university, the medical director said, in response to management directive and the university’s zero tolerance to drug abuse, the Medical Centre has commenced compulsory drug screening for all fresh university students.