Hisbah officers in Jigawa State have received special training to help people during accidents and other emergencies.
The Jigawa State Hisbah Board has trained its personnel in first aid and life saving skills, so they can respond better to emergencies while on duty. NigeriaNews Subscription
Hisbah is a community based moral and security group.
Its members work closely with the police and other agencies to keep public order, settle disputes and respond to calls for help across the state.
The training took place on Tuesday in Gumel, in Gumel Local Government Area.
It was part of the board’s monthly end of month lecture series, which aims to make Hisbah staff more professional.
The board’s Public Relations Officer, Dauda Hadejia, told reporters the programme was meant to strengthen operatives who are always among the people.
He said the lecture focused on giving quick help to people who are hurt, faint or are involved in accidents before they can reach a hospital.
He explained that Hisbah members are often the first to arrive at accident scenes and emergencies, so they need basic medical skills.
The topics covered included how to stop bleeding, how to help someone who faints, and what to do after a snake or insect bite.
The training also covered how to support someone with a fracture, how to help an epileptic patient, how to deal with choking, and how to assist a woman in labour.
Hadejia thanked the people who organised the lecture and prayed for them.
One participant, Sani Umar, said he used to rush injured people straight to hospital without stopping the bleeding first, but now he knows what to do.
He said the training gives him more confidence to handle emergencies on the road and at public events.
Another participant, Aminu Bello, said the training could help save lives before medical experts arrive.
He asked the state headquarters to extend it to all local government areas.