The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has announced its latest national initiative in line with the ‘Year of Zayed’, the first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in cooperation with the Federal National Council. The National Initiative for First Aid and CPR, which will train 20,000 people from various sectors of the society will be implemented within four to five years aimed at reducing the causes of death such as cardiac arrest, strokes, and other emergencies. The training is in line with MOHAP’s strategy to provide comprehensive and integrated health care consistent with international standards and ensure the happiness of the society.
The initiative will take off with an orientation and training session to be conducted by MOHAP’s Training and Development Center for the members of the Federal National Council, which supports the Ministry’s efforts in handling emergency situations and reducing the causes of death from heart failure, strokes, and other emergency cases. It also seeks to encourage other government entities from the federal and local level to adopt and implement the initiative, as well as build a database of volunteers for paramedics to assist in emergencies, crises, and disasters.
H.E. Awad Saghir Al Ketbi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services Sector for MOHAP, issued Administrative Resolution (No. 637) of 2018 for the creation of an oversight (ad-hoc) committee chaired by Saqr Ghanem Al Humeiri, Director of the Training and Development Center to oversee the implementation of the training which will include first aid, CPR, and quick-response to medical emergencies, crises and disasters, in accordance with UAE Cabinet Decision (No.6) of 2016 on the task of some ministries involved as mentioned in the terms of reference.
H.E. Al Ketbi underscored that the National Initiative for First Aid and CPR is part of MOHAP’s activities in line with the ‘Year of Zayed’ initiative aimed at increasing community awareness about cardiac arrest and provide training on ways to quickly respond to cases of sudden cardiac arrest, such as administering CPR and first aid to save an injured person. He further noted that the committee will supervise the implementation and progress of the initiative such as identifying the target participants, defining the priorities of training groups, and applying for the training programs as soon as the scientific and training materials are available.
Dr. Abdel-Karim Al-Zarouni, Director of Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Department, MOHAP, said that the national initiative has chosen the Federal National Council as the pioneering entity to lead in the training and motivate both the private and public sector, companies, shopping centers, schools, and reach as well to the household level through the Supreme Council for the Family and Women's Associations.
Saqr Ghanem Al Humeiri explained: “The department will be responsible for organizing the first aid and CPR operations, the training materials which have international accreditation and approved by MOHAP applicable for trainees without medical background. The trainees will receive a certificate valid for two years from the training provided by MOHAP instructors, private entities, and volunteers who have the license to train in this field.
The MOHAP’s Training and Development Center has all the required expertise and competencies, and it has provided the first regional program to train professionals on CPR and cardiovascular care provided following the latest updates from the American Heart Association and the first national program to train and license accredited trainers for first aid and recovery from the European Resuscitation Council.