PORT HARCOURT: The Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) has commenced a new capacity-building programme aimed at improving the ability of healthcare professionals to respond promptly and effectively to medical emergencies.
The specialised training, which focuses on Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), was inaugurated on Monday, August 24, 2026, as part of efforts by the hospital management to strengthen emergency preparedness and improve the quality of clinical care.
Speaking at the commencement of the programme, the Chief Medical Director of RSUTH, Professor Chizindu Dike Alikor, said healthcare professionals require not only medical knowledge but also practical competence and confidence to manage patients in life-threatening situations.
He said the training would expose participants to critical skills required to assess emergencies, make appropriate decisions and provide timely interventions when patients require immediate care.
According to Alikor, the speed and quality of a medical response can be crucial in determining the outcome of an emergency, making continuous professional training an important component of healthcare delivery.
The CMD disclosed that 50 healthcare professionals are participating in the first phase of the programme.
He added that the hospital intends to extend the training to more members of its workforce through subsequent phases, with the objective of broadening the number of professionals equipped to provide advanced emergency care.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, who attended the event as Special Guest of Honour, formally flagged off the programme.
The commencement attracted consultants, medical practitioners and other healthcare professionals from across Rivers State, reflecting the growing emphasis on emergency medicine and continuing professional development within the state’s health sector.
The training is part of the broader capacity-development efforts of the Professor Alikor-led administration at RSUTH, with emphasis on improving clinical preparedness and ensuring that healthcare workers are better equipped to respond to critical situations.
The hospital management said continued investment in professional development remains essential to strengthening emergency services and improving the delivery of safe, timely and quality healthcare to patients.
The initiative also positions emergency-response training as a key component of RSUTH’s efforts to build a more competent and responsive healthcare workforce.
