Brain Health Initiative announces two-day free caregiver training programme
The Brain Health Initiative Nigeria (BHIN) has announced a two-day Basic Carers’ Training programme aimed at improving caregiving skills and promoting brain health through compassionate care.
The training, themed “Nurturing Brain Health Through Kindness and Care,” is scheduled to hold on June 25 and 26 at 9am daily, with both physical and virtual participation options. Participation is free, while certification attracts a fee of ₦5,000.
The founder of BHIN, Dr. Temitope Farombi, said the initiative is designed to bridge the knowledge and skill gaps in society, particularly in elderly care where informal caregivers play a major role.
“It’s about caregivers’ training, and it is an opportunity to fill in the gap, the knowledge gap and the skill gap in society. In the sense that we have fewer doctors and nurses to take care of older adults. So we rely heavily on informal care for older adults,” he said.
Dr. Farombi explained that informal caregivers are often family members who assume responsibility for elderly care without formal medical training.
“What do I mean by informal care? These are people who do not have the knowledge of healthcare services but automatically assume the role. Oftentimes, they may be wives, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, and in some instances, children also serve as informal caregivers,” he said.
The British-trained neurologist noted that the absence of proper training often affects the quality of care given to older persons, stressing the need for structured learning for caregivers.
“There is a lack of training on the basic needs of older adults. So the goal of Brain Health Initiative Nigeria is to see how we can equip these informal caregivers with basic training such that they can better take care of those under their care,” Farombi, who holds a Ph.D in Global Health from a British university, added.
According to her, the training will focus on key areas such as medication management, prevention of domestic accidents like falls, and guidance on navigating the healthcare system.
“Knowledge is power. Equipping them with knowledge about the health of older adults, how to handle medications, how to prevent simple accidents that happen at home like falls, and how to help them navigate the health system, what is needed,” he said.
Dr. Farombi said improved caregiver knowledge would significantly enhance both elderly care and caregivers’ well-being, warning that lack of understanding in medication management can have severe consequences.
The product of Kings College, London cited an example of a caregiver who stopped administering prescribed drugs after noticing frequent urination in an elderly patient on diuretics, not realising it was a normal effect of the medication. The patient later suffered a stroke after his treatment regimen was interrupted.
“So identifying that lack of knowledge is what has made the Brain Health Initiative Nigeria focus on equipping the public, communities, and caregivers of the elderly,” she said.
Farombi added that BHIN runs both basic and advanced caregiver training programmes. The basic training is free of charge as part of its community support initiative, while certification costs ₦5,000. The advanced programme, designed for hospital-level care, is also available at a cost.
Also speaking, Miss Joke Akinyemi, the Programme Officer of BHIN, said the training is open to nurses, nurse aides, social workers, individuals planning to migrate abroad, and anyone interested in caregiving.
Registration is available via the link: http://bit.ly/3QiEvxj.
