The Federal Government has approved curriculum for the take-off of paramedic technology in various universities and teaching hospitals in Nigeria.

 

The programme, government said, would produce healthcare professionals working in emergency medical situations to help reduce deaths, trauma and other complications arising from emergencies.

 

The course is expected to begin with a National Diploma at various universities, teaching hospitals and other institutions of tertiary learning approved by the government.

 

Launching the curriculum yesterday for the programme in Abuja, Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, said medical emergencies had not been given the attention they deserve, except where relatives of individuals were involved, adding that Nigeria had not properly recognised the position of paramedics.

 

He said students for the programme must be trained to meet local needs.

 

Chukwu said: “If they cannot operate in Nigeria, they are useless; later, they will begin to call for training abroad.”

 

According to him, focus must not be on hospital equipment more than trained personnel to manage them.

 

The minister also reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the commencement of herbal medicine in Nigerian universities next year.

 

He said: “I believe that by next year, people will be taking interest in studying herbal medicine in our tertiary institutions. Only then can we integrate herbal medicine with conventional medicine. Just like medicine had to go to school, herbal medicine must go to school. There is no way anybody can make any diagnosis without going to school; it is impossible.”

 

In a remark, Corps Marshall and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka, said one of the challenges of the Corps was rescue officials.

 

He described the step as what would help the FRSC in engaging graduates of the Paramedic Technology when recruiting personnel.

 

The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Dr. Masa’udu Kazaure, represented by the agency’s Deputy Director, Health, Mrs. Helen Oduntan, said that prior to the development of the paramedics curricula, the country lacked adequately trained personnel for proper management of on-the-site and en-route pre-hospital medical emergency services.