Training of the fifth batch of the Military Emergency Medical Technicians (MEMTs) under a programme of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and the Ghana Armed Forces Health Services (GAFHS) has begun in Accra.
The cohort, including 45 military personnel, 11 defence civilian staff of the Ghana Armed Forces and eight civilians, were selected to undertake the programme, which is aimed at strengthening the emergency medical response capacity of the Ghana Armed Forces and the national emergency care system.
The trainees will undergo intensive training in trauma care, patient stabilisation, evacuation procedures, first aid and comprehensive pre-hospital emergency response before their final assessment and passing out.
Training
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Head of Department at the 37 Military Hospital, Brigadier-General (Dr) R. Naab, who represented the Deputy Chief of Staff (Medical), Brigadier-General Ibrahim Kwabia, said the training programme reflected a forward-thinking approach to military operations and medical preparedness.
He explained that modern military operations required more than weapons and combat capability, but also rapid medical response, skilled pre-hospital care and disciplined evacuation systems.
Brigadier-General Naab urged the trainees to take the programme seriously, as what they would learn during the training, would be critical when they completed the programme, adding that they could not afford to be unprepared when deployed.
Collaboration
The Commanding Officer of the 37 Military Hospital, Lieutenant Colonel A. Abiti, described the event as an important opening ceremony for the MEMT Batch Five programme.
He said the programme was part of collaborative efforts between the military and the National Ambulance Service to produce highly trained human resources in emergency medical care.
Lieutenant Colonel Abiti added that the trainees were selected from a larger pool of applicants who expressed interest in the programme, but only those who met the qualification requirements were selected.
Strategic partnership
A speech delivered by the Deputy Director for Policy, Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the National Ambulance Service, Dr Simon Nyaaba, on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of NAS, Dr George Kojo Owusu, highlighted the importance of the partnership between the National Ambulance Service and the Ghana Armed Forces Health Services.
He said the programme, which began in 2013 with an initial cohort of 65 military personnel, had trained a total of 277 personnel in emergency medical response prior to the current batch.
Training scope, responsibilities
Dr Nyaaba explained that the trainees would acquire skills in trauma care, patient stabilisation, evacuation procedures, first aid and comprehensive pre-hospital emergency response.
He said emergency medicine required sound judgment under pressure, teamwork in chaotic environments and compassion in moments of crisis.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
