NGO Decries Lack Of First Aid Equipment In Public Schools

By Chukwuka Nweze

The Child Care and Adult Protection Initiative (CCAPI), a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) has decried lack of Equipment for First Aid Treatment in Public Schools in Cross River State.

Miss Evelyn Oti, Executive Director of CCAPI stated this in Calabar while speaking with Journalists over its current awareness campaign on School Health across schools in the state.

She disclosed that the organization has spent about one million naira on sensitization campaign and provision of sick bay to some public schools across the state.

`The objective of our organization is actually to promote school health through advocacy, sensitisation and provision of sick bay for first aid treatment in schools.

“We have worked In a number of schools and to our greatest surprise, we discovered that many schools did not know anything about first aid treatment, so there is a lot of work to do.

“Our greatest challenge now is funding. Initially we thought we could just go round some schools sensitise them to create awareness about the need for first aid treatment.

“But we have since discovered that we need to do more than that, and that is why we are providing sick bay.

“So far we have spent over N1 million since the initiative began in 2014. Incidentally we have not had sponsors from any organization within or outside Nigeria.

“Obviously, we funds to enable us continue with this important service to our state, Nigeria and humanity in general, ‘’ she said.

She added that the CCAPI is in partnership with other organizations like Save the Children International (Funded by USAID), Child Protection Network.

“However, funds received by its partners are usually tailored towards the implementation of specific projects as recommended by the funders, ‘’ she said.

Oti commended principals of some secondary schools for embracing the project in their areas and going ahead to assist CCAPI in carrying out the project in their schools.

“Recently, we donated a sick bay to the Army Day Secondary School Eburutu Barracks Calabar and behold, the principal, Mrs Etem Edet was so excited that, she assisted in organizing an elaborate commissioning ceremony. It was very encouraging, ‘’ she said.

Evelyn added that since its formal launch in 2014, CCAPI had carried out its activities in Government Secondary School Federal Housing, Government Secondary School Lagos Street, WAPI Secondary School and Akim Primary School all in Calabar.

She appealed to the State Government, NGOs and public spirited members of the public for more collaboration and financial support.

“We acknowledge the financial And material support of some public spirited individuals but we look forward for more support from the state government as well as international donors.

“We believe the school health will be greatly improved with our joint efforts to create a healthy environment for pupils and students within the learning environment.

“We are working towards providing sick bays to all the Secondary Schools in the three senatorial districts of Cross River, ‘’ she stated.


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