In continuation of efforts to further boost the capacity of personnel for the effective and efficient conduct of Aeromedical Evacuation missions to airlift wounded soldiers from various theatres of operation as well as other critical patients to appropriate treatment facilities, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has trained another batch of flight nurses and aircrew.
The graduation of the 20 nurses and four loadmasters took place at the NAF Base Kaduna on Friday after two weeks of intensive training that involved theoretical and practical sessions at the NAF School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine (NAFSMSAM) Kaduna as well as simulation exercises using the C-130H aircraft, configured for Aeromedical Evacuation.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, the Air Officer Commanding Air Training Command (AOC ATC), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Musa Mukhtar, said noted that the training was in line with one of the Key Drivers of the Vision of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, which focuses on “human capacity development through robust and result-oriented training for enhanced professional performance”.
He said the participants had undoubtedly benefited immensely from the training, and charged them to make good use of what they had learnt to add value to operations as they return to their various units.
AVM Mukhtar urged them to put their new skills to the test in providing services to the Nation, should the NAF be called upon to evacuate critically ill patients, as may be required in furtherance of the NAF’s constitutional role of providing military aid to civil authority.
He commended the NAF Medical Services Branch for the steps it had been taking to upgrade the skills of its personnel to meet current and emergency healthcare challenges.
NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said in a statement that areas covered during the two-week training include Aerospace Physiology, Crew Resource Management, Aircrew Complements and Duties, Enplaning and Deplaning Procedures, Infection Control in Aviation, In-flight Patients Care and Aviation Safety, amongst others.
” The graduation ceremony featured a demonstration where the participants and crew of the NAF C-130H aircraft simulated the care and management of in-flight patients,” he said.
