The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on 10 September 2018, commenced a 5-Day Aeromedical Evacuation and Advanced Trauma Life Support Training Workshop for 37 medical personnel drawn from NAF units across Nigeria. The training, which is holding at the 261 NAF Reference Hospital Bauchi, is part of efforts to further enhance the capacity of NAF personnel to provide effective aeromedical evacuation and advanced life support services within Operation LAFIYA DOLE as well as other Theatres of Operation in the country.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Chief of Medical Services, Air Vice Marshal Sale Shinkafi, who was represented by the Director of Public Health and Humanitarian Services NAF Headquarters, Group Captain Azubuike Chukwuka, stated that the workshop was aimed at equipping NAF personnel with the necessary skills to provide effective aeromedical evacuation services to injured persons, especially at the front lines and theatres of operations.
He said it was also aimed at ensuring that NAF Aeromedical Evacuation Teams and paramedics are appropriately trained to effectively man the Accident and Emergency Units in NAF Hospitals across the country. Group Captain Chukwuka therefore urged participants to make the most of the training with a view to applying the knowledge gained to save lives, thereby boosting troops’ morale.
The training exercise is in line with one of the key drivers of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar’s vision which is aimed at creating needed capacities in every NAF professional speciality to enhance the ability of the Service to effectively carry out its constitutional roles.
The workshop, which is expected to end on 14 September 2018, would expose the selected medical personnel to the complexities involved in providing real time first aid to casualties before evacuation in real battle situations. Other areas to be covered during the workshop include Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
Facilitators at the Workshop include American Heart Society certified consultants from the Jos University Teaching Hospital as well as resource persons from NAF Headquarters Medical Services Branch. One of the highlights of the workshop was a practical demonstration of casualty evacuation of injured troops using a NAF Bell 412 Helicopter.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
