• Thursday, September 05, 2024
businessday logo

BusinessDay

Training centre for air ambulance, helicopter emergency medical services debut in Nigeria

Training centre for air ambulance, helicopter emergency medical services debut in Nigeria

From left: Dayo Osholowu, Medical Director, KASI Healthcare Offshore and Aeromedical Unit; Philip Lex, Head of Training, ADAC HEMS Academy; and Ehis Uadiale, General Manager, NestAV; during the signing of Joint Memorandum of Understanding between Nesto Aviation Services, ADAC HEMS Academy Germany and KASI Healthcare at NestAV Hanger, in Lagos, on Friday.

Nesto Aviation Services (Nestav), ADAC HEMS Academy Germany and Kasi Healthcare Offshore & Aeromedical Unit have joined forces to establish a state-of-the-art Training Center in Nigeria linked to the ADAC HEMS Academy GmbH Germany.

The firms also introduced Air Ambulance and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) for the Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria and the rest of West Africa.

This is in a move to significantly improve access to emergency medical care for workers in the Oil and Gas Sector in offshore areas of the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa.

The partnership will provide a dedicated critical care aircraft for injured personnel in the Golden hour, including transport for stroke victims, heart attack patients and traumatic injuries with complications, to those who would otherwise have limited access to emergency services in the Golden Hour.

The program will prioritise training local doctors, nurses and paramedics, creating jobs and building long-term capacity within the region.

The ADAC HEMS Academy Training Site in Nigeria offers the American Heart Association portfolio of courses and crew training. The partnership will also launch an Air Ambulance service, utilising a King Air Aircraft operated by NestAV equipped with advanced medical equipment and Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support trained Aeromedical team from Kasi Healthcare Offshore and Aeromedical Unit.

ADAC is consulting on all aspects of the configuration and establishment of HEMS in Nigeria under this project.

Read also: GETMEDCO set to revolutionise, boost access to healthcare in Nigeria

“We are the largest indigenous EPCC service provider for major IOCs in Sub-Saharan Africa. This partnership represents a significant leap forward in providing critical medical care across Offshore and Remote locations in the Gulf of Guinea,” said Ernest Azudialu Obiejesi, Chairman of Nestoil Group.

“By bringing together our collective strengths, we are establishing a world-class Air Ambulance and HEMS program that will have a profound impact on the health and well-being of workers in Oil industry across the region.”

“ADAC HEMS Academy is proud to conclude the signing of a framework agreement with Kasi Healthcare as medical ops provider and Nest AV as flight ops provider in this ground-breaking project,” said a representative of ADAC HEMS Academy Germany.

Under the agreement “We are committed to establishing in Nigeria a training site linked to the ADAC HEMS Academy that is recognized by the American Heart Association training of selected AHA course formats and qualification of Nigerian instructors. We are also Consulting on all aspects of the configuration and establishment of HEMS in Nigeria under this project. Our knowledge and experience in aeromedical training to ensure the success of this program and empower local healthcare professionals.

“We are also proud to be working with two organizations licensed by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority both with a commitment to safety and excellence”

The ceremony featured the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the three organizations, paving the way for the development of aeromedical capacity across more than 180 remote oil and gas locations within the Gulf of Guinea.

Nestoil Group was incorporated in 1991 and is Nigeria’s largest indigenous Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) Company in the Oil and Gas sector.