Lebone College receives international accreditation for its first aid training
A college in Pretoria was presented with a plaque by an international organisation and its accreditation has put them among 4 000 training colleges worldwide.
Lebone College in Arcadia, Pretoria, is now authorised to offer Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers and Advanced Cardiac Life Support courses.
The Gauteng health department announced on February 29 that Lebone College of Emergency Care has received international accreditation from the American Heart Association (AHA) for its efforts in teaching first aid.
These courses are designed to provide healthcare professionals with essential skills and equip them to save lives during critical moments.
This milestone elevates the college to the ranks of 4 000 training centres worldwide and makes it the third government-operated centre in the country to offer AHA courses.
MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said: “Addressing the gap in resuscitation skills among healthcare workers and ensuring standardised care strengthens our health system’s capacity to save lives. It further aligns with the NHI’s goal of providing equitable access to high-quality healthcare services for all residents.”
According to the World Health Organisation, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death around the world, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives each year.
These are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions.
More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes and one-third of such deaths occur in people under 70.
“Today [February 29] we celebrate many things, but most importantly, the lives that will be saved because of this partnership. This agreement is an important step forward in building longer, healthier lives in Gauteng and South Africa as a whole,” Nkomo-Ralehoko said.
The college provides education and training in emergency medical care and medical rescue courses to communities across the metro.
It is the only public college in Gauteng providing training in emergency medical care.
Last year, it provided emergency training to nearly 3 000 residents.
The effort had formed part of the MEC’s initiative to bring first responder training to Tish (townships, informal settlements and hostels) communities.
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The programme was launched by the college and Gauteng Department of Health in March 2023 in Sebokeng, Sedibeng.
One of the reasons this programme came about is because departmental research shows that in over 90% of medical, trauma and suicide incidents, as well as accidents, communities are not properly equipped to respond to the emergency confronting them.
Training covers topics such as haemorrhage control, burn treatment, fractured and dislocated bone treatment, seizure treatment, choking, CPR, first aid awareness and tools and hyperthermia.
The college is in the process of acquiring accreditation with the Council of Higher Education, which will enable it to independently offer a recognised curriculum across higher education institutions.
It presently offers higher certificate and diploma programmes in emergency medical care through a partnership with Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University.
“High-quality CPR, when performed immediately, can double or even triple survival from sudden cardiac arrest. Having more people equipped to provide high-quality CPR at any point along the chain of survival can help us improve the survival rate,” said Glenn van Houten, an AHA representative.
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