​Lebone College of Emergency Care (LCOEC), a training centre under the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has achieved a significant milestone in its mission to promote life-saving skills by acquiring an international accreditation from the American Heart Association (AHA).

With this accreditation, Lebone College is now authorised to offer Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLSHCP) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) courses. These courses provide essential knowledge and skills to healthcare providers, equipping them to respond effectively in emergency situations to save lives. 

In addition, this milestone positions Lebone College as one of the approximately 4000 training centres in the world and the third government operated centre in the country accredited to offer the American Heart Association courses. 

This accomplishment highlights the GDoH’s commitment to deliver quality healthcare training and services within the government structures which is a crucial step towards the readiness for the National Health Insurance (NHI) rollout in the province. 

“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 highquality healthcare services for all residents”, said MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo Ralehoko. 

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. CVDs are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include 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 these deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age. 

“Today 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 Province and South Africa as a whole. 

“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 survival rate,” said Mr Glenn van Houten representative from the American Heart Association. 

Lebone College continues to provide training in Emergency Medical Care and Medical Rescue courses and is currently in the process of acquiring accreditation with the Council of Higher Education which will allow the college to independently offer curriculum that is recognised across higher education institutions. Currently the college is offering Higher Certificate and Diploma in Emergency Medical Care through a partnership with Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. 

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Issued by Gauteng Department of Health