The Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, RSUTH, on Monday, August 24, 2026, commenced a comprehensive training programme on Basic Cardiovascular Life Support, BCLS, and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, ACLS, for healthcare professionals of the hospital.
The training is aimed at strengthening emergency response capacity and equipping clinical staff with current, evidence-based resuscitation skills to reduce preventable deaths across all departments.
The Chief Medical Director, CMD, RSUTH, Prof. Chizindu A. Alikor, welcomed doctors, nurses, invited guests and members of the media. He described BCLS and ACLS training as non-negotiable competencies for all healthcare workers.
According to him, “Emergencies do not give notice. Having personnel with adequate resuscitation skills can make the difference between life and death.”
Prof. Alikor emphasized the need for continuous training and retraining to ensure that staff maintain proficiency in emergency care. He noted that a hospital with well-trained personnel in BCLS and ACLS is better positioned to sustain an effective emergency response system and improve patient outcomes.
Prof. Alikor also commended the Special Guest of Honour, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, for his consistent advocacy and support in advancing the needs of RSUTH to the Rivers State Government.
Declaring the training open in his keynote address, Dr. Wachukwu shared a personal experience where his knowledge of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, CPR, helped save the life of an air hostess who collapsed mid-flight. He stressed that resuscitation skills can become critical at any time and in any setting.
Dr. Wachukwu assured that the Ministry, in collaboration with the CMD, RSUTH, is working to put in place the necessary structures and resources, with the continued support of the Rivers State Government, to sustain and improve healthcare delivery at RSUTH and across the state.
The Permanent Secretary urged participants to take the training seriously, stating that “no one can predict when an emergency requiring resuscitation will occur.”
Delivering a goodwill message, Dr. Lawson Ndu applauded the Accident and Emergency Department and the hospital management for their commitment. He noted the importance of advancing resuscitation science through BCLS, ACLS, and the adoption of advanced interventions such as Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, ECMO. He expressed satisfaction with RSUTH’s growing focus on emergency care and resuscitation.
Also speaking, the Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department, Dr. Ovundah Nyeche, made a presentation on the impact of timely CPR. Citing the case of a footballer who collapsed on the pitch and was successfully revived, he demonstrated how immediate intervention can save lives.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Wachukwu charged the hospital management, Heads of Departments and programme coordinators to ensure that the training is delivered to the highest standard. He stressed the need to equip all participants with the requisite knowledge and skills to further strengthen emergency and resuscitation services at RSUTH. He pledged his continued and unwavering support to the programme.
The training had in attendance senior management staff, consultants, resident doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals from various departments of RSUTH.
