Health Emergency Initiative Unveils National Plan to Train 750,000 First Responders and Expand Lifesaving Emergency Care Across Nigeria

The Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) has announced an ambitious national plan to train 750,000 additional first responders, marking a major step toward building a countrywide network of citizens equipped to save lives before victims reach the hospital.

The announcement was made during the organisation’s 10th Anniversary and Awards Ceremony, held in Ikeja, Lagos, where HEI also revealed a comprehensive five-year expansion strategy to strengthen emergency care systems across Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Paschal Achunine, Executive Director of HEI, reaffirmed the organisation’s founding vision: ensuring that no Nigerian dies due to lack of immediate medical attention or inability to afford emergency care. He explained that HEI continues to provide emergency financial support for indigent accident victims, often stepping in as the “next of kin” for victims of road crashes, gas explosions, and building collapses who arrive at hospitals without relatives or funds.

“Our joy is that people who can’t afford surgeries and other critical health needs can still receive care,” Achunine said. “Road traffic accidents remain the biggest killer of young people between ages 10 and 35 in Nigeria. At HEI, we value lives, we don’t just talk about the problem; we take pragmatic action. We partner with public health institutions and missionary hospitals to intervene at that critical moment and help preserve lives.”

HEI’s Board Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Imafidon, unveiled a bold expansion plan that will extend the organisation’s reach to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The plan aims to increase HEI’s hospital partnerships from the current 85 health facilities across 16 states to at least 1,000 partner hospitals nationwide.

“We want to ensure that no indigent emergency patient is denied or delayed care anywhere in Nigeria,” Imafidon stated. “Our goal is to help build a more resilient emergency response system — one where care is swift, rehabilitation is accessible, and lives are not lost simply because people cannot afford treatment.”

A critical pillar of the expansion is HEI’s nationwide first responder training programme. The organisation plans to train 750,000 citizens, including youth corps members, teachers, secondary and tertiary students, market traders, security personnel, and community volunteers. This initiative will help create a robust, community-driven emergency response network capable of stabilising victims during the “golden hour” before medical professionals arrive.

The 10th anniversary event also featured an awards segment recognising organisations, brands, and partners who have supported HEI’s mission over the past decade. Their contributions have helped strengthen emergency interventions, expand access to care, and build community resilience.

In a goodwill message, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu commended HEI for transforming emergency support for vulnerable citizens. Represented by Dr. Cecilia Mabogunje, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Service Commission, the governor described HEI’s decade-long contribution as a powerful testament to empathy-driven development.

“HEI’s work reinforces the promise that emergency care is a right, not a privilege,” Mabogunje said. “Here in Lagos, our collaboration bridges government and civil society to ensure that victims of accidents are not also victims of poverty. The initiative remains an essential partner in strengthening health security across the state and the nation.”

As HEI marks its 10-year milestone, the organisation reiterated its continued commitment to saving lives, deepening partnerships, and ensuring that every Nigerian — regardless of socioeconomic status — has access to timely, lifesaving emergency support.