Frequently asked questions
Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) is an award-winning Nigerian nonprofit dedicated to saving lives and improving access to emergency healthcare for indigent and vulnerable populations across Nigeria. HEI provides financial support for emergency care for indigent and vulnerable patients, particularly children aged 0–5 years, facilitates initial deposits and medical bills for accident and crash victims within the critical first 24 hours, implements community-based malnutrition and maternal and child health interventions, and trains first responders to strengthen pre-hospital and post-crash care. Over the past decade, HEI has reached more than 149,000 beneficiaries across 16 states.
HEI’s changemaking model focuses on leveraging and strengthening existing government, institutional and community structures rather than creating parallel systems. Through partnerships with public hospitals, emergency response agencies, schools, government institutions and community networks, as well as its Training of Trainers model, HEI achieves greater reach, ownership, sustainability and multiplier impact.
This approach is further strengthened by HERA, HEI’s WhatsApp-based emergency-response platform, which provides emergency guidance, refresher learning for trained responders and a notification feature that can alert the nearest Community First Responder to an emergency, helping reduce response time during the critical golden hours. By leveraging WhatsApp—one of the most accessible and affordable digital platforms in Nigeria—HERA transforms HEI’s first responder network from a one-time training intervention into a continuously connected, refreshed and technology-enabled community emergency-response system.
Through the integration of direct lifesaving support, capacity building, institutional partnerships, community mobilisation and technology, HEI continues to develop scalable and sustainable solutions that strengthen Nigeria’s emergency healthcare and pre-hospital response ecosystem.
Our Seven Major Services Include:
- First Responder Training & Emergency Preparedness — We train students, teachers, frontline workers and community members in CPR, First Aid, Basic Life Support and pre-hospital emergency response, empowering more people to save lives before professional help arrives.
- Emergency Health Education (EHE) — In Partnership with NERDC, we integrate lifesaving and emergency preparedness education into primary and secondary schools, using a scalable Training of Trainers model to equip teachers and students with essential emergency response knowledge.
- Emergency & Post-Crash Care Support — We facilitate timely treatment for victims of road crashes, fire incidents and other emergencies, including initial treatment deposits within the critical first 24 hours, through partnerships with public hospitals and emergency-response institutions.
- Financial Aid for Indigent Patients — We provide financial assistance for urgent medical treatment to indigent and vulnerable patients, particularly children aged 0–5 years, helping remove financial barriers that can delay lifesaving care.
- Malnutrition Alleviation & Child Nutrition — We identify and support children under five affected by acute malnutrition through community-based screening, therapeutic nutrition, caregiver education, monitoring and appropriate referrals to promote recovery and wellbeing.
- HERA – Technology-Enabled Emergency Response — Our WhatsApp-based HERA platform provides emergency guidance, knowledge refreshers for trained responders and notifications that alert the nearest available Community First Responder, helping reduce response time during the critical golden hours and extending emergency-response capacity into communities.
- Programme Implementation & Implementation Science — HEI has developed a strong track record in programme implementation, implementation science and translating innovative interventions into scalable and sustainable solutions. We support partners across the programme lifecycle, including stakeholder engagement, field implementation, capacity building, monitoring, learning and scale-up. HEI can serve as a strategic implementation partner for international NGOs, corporate organisations and CSR programmes, development institutions, national and subnational governments, foundations and philanthropic organisations seeking credible local expertise and effective last-mile delivery.
Together, these seven service areas position HEI as both a direct service provider and a strategic implementation partner—combining field experience, institutional partnerships, community networks, technology and implementation expertise to translate ideas and resources into measurable impact at scale across Nigeria.
Children and Vulnerable Families – Particularly children aged 0–5 years and families requiring emergency healthcare, financial assistance or nutrition support.
Schools, Students and Teachers – Beneficiaries of Emergency Health Education, First Responder Training, CPR, First Aid and school-based emergency preparedness.
Communities and Community-Based Groups – Residents, community leaders, market associations, transporters and other community members who can be trained and mobilised as Community First Responders.
Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies – National and subnational governments and agencies seeking support for emergency preparedness, public health, road safety, nutrition, healthcare access and community-based interventions.
Emergency Response & Healthcare Institutions – FRSC, Police, Fire Service, LASTMA, VIO, Civil Defence, ambulance services, public hospitals and other institutions seeking capacity building, referral partnerships and technology-enabled emergency response.
Corporate Organisations & CSR Programmes – Businesses seeking credible partners to design and implement high-impact, measurable CSR and community investment programmes in health, safety, nutrition and emergency preparedness.
International NGOs, Development Institutions, Foundations & Philanthropic Organisations – Organisations requiring a trusted local implementation partner with established government and community relationships, field capacity and experience in programme delivery, monitoring, learning and scale-up.
Research, Academic & Development Partners – Universities, research institutions and technical partners seeking opportunities to collaborate on implementation science, evidence generation, programme evaluation, knowledge development and scalable health interventions.
Since inception, HEI has provided financial support to more than 33,700 indigent patients across 95 public hospitals in 16 states, delivered therapeutic food and medical support to over 8,200 malnourished children, supported over 7,250 road traffic accident and fire victims, and trained over 149,700 first and lay responders nationwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HEI also supplied personal protective equipment to over 11,200 frontline health workers, strengthening overstretched public health systems during a national emergency.
Visit the Our Impact Page to see our latest numbers.
You can support HEI by donating, volunteering, or partnering with us. Your contributions help us continue to provide critical services and support to those in need.
Please visit our donate page to make a donation or visit our get involved page to see how you can get involved.
HEI offers regular training sessions in First Aid, CPR, AED usage, and other pre-hospital care skills. Visit our academy courses page or contact us directly for information on upcoming events or training sessions and how to register.
While many of our activities are based in Lagos, we conduct medical outreaches and provide support in rural and underserved communities across Nigeria.
1. National Scale & Community Emergency Response
Expand HEI’s current footprint from 16 states and the FCT to all 36 states, building Nigeria’s largest community-based First Responder network. Scale HERA, Emergency Health Education and the Training of Trainers model to connect trained citizens, schools, communities, emergency agencies and health facilities.
2030 ambition: Train and mobilise 750,000+ First Responders and establish a nationwide, technology-enabled emergency-response network.
2. Implementation Science, Evidence & Healthcare Access
Consolidate HEI’s track record in post-crash care, emergency financial support, indigent patient assistance, child nutrition and First Responder training into a leading implementation and evidence-generation platform. Strengthen partnerships with governments, hospitals, development institutions, foundations and corporate organisations while documenting and scaling proven solutions.
2030 ambition: Position HEI as a preferred implementation partner and recognised centre of expertise in emergency healthcare and community-based interventions.
3. African Expansion & Institutional Sustainability
Replicate HEI’s proven Community First Responder, HERA and implementation models across Sub-Saharan Africa, building strategic partnerships with governments, NGOs, development agencies, foundations and the private sector.
2030 ambition: Establish HEI as a leading African reference organisation for community-based emergency response and pre-hospital care, supported by strong governance, technology, evidence, partnerships and sustainable financing.
During pandemics and other public health emergencies, HEI mobilises resources and partnerships to protect frontline health workers and strengthen the capacity of health facilities to continue providing essential care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HEI established an Emergency Trust Fund and provided PPE and other essential medical consumables to health workers and public health institutions, including isolation centres, hospitals, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). More than 9,300 health workers across 34 health facilities benefited from the initiative.
Going forward, HEI will continue to respond to pandemics and other public health emergencies by mobilising partners and resources, supporting frontline workers and health facilities, providing essential protective and medical supplies, strengthening community preparedness and promoting timely access to care. Our approach is designed to complement government and institutional response efforts and help ensure that essential health services remain accessible and resilient during emergencies
You can reach out to us via our contact page on the website or call our helpline. We’re here to assist you with any queries or support you may need.
We Need You:
Your support can make a significant difference.
Give
Your donation helps treatment begin for a patient who can’t meet the cost on the day it’s needed. Give once, or give every month.
Learn
Most emergencies are witnessed by someone who isn’t a medic. Learn a life-saving skill today and become a life-saver.
Volunteer
Give your time and skills — in the field, in storytelling, in fundraising, and more.
Refer
Medical social workers, nurses, and hospital teams can refer a patient who can’t begin treatment.
Partner with Us
For companies, foundations, and institutions that want to fund readiness, treatment access, or the systems behind both.