CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT RECEIVES BOOST AS NAF GRADUATES ANOTHER SET OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL, ACTIVATES COLLEGE OF ALLIED MEDICAL SERVICES IN KADUNA.
In furtherance of its capacity building efforts and the need to improve trade proficiency of medical personnel, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), yesterday, 11 December 2020, graduated another set of personnel who have successfully gone through 4 weeks of intensive upgrading courses at the NAF School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine (NAFSMSAM), Kaduna.
The course had 66 participants in 5 medical trades, comprising 24 medical laboratory technicians, 17 hygiene technicians, 11 dental technicians, 8 medical records personnel and 6 X-ray technicians. With the graduation, the Medical Services Branch has successfully cleared the backlog of personnel who required upgrading courses as perquisites for their promotion.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was represented by the Commander 453 Base Services Group Kaduna, Air Commodore Nazib Aliyu, noted that the Medical Services Branch is tasked with the huge responsibility of ensuring the good health and physical fitness of NAF personnel. According to him, only physically and mentally fit troops could be deployed in furtherance of National strategic objectives. The CAS noted that the NAF places high premium on capacity building and professional development of all categories of personnel as NAF continues to invest in the training and retraining of the medical personnel to enable them provide optimum professional medical services to personnel and their families.
The CAS stated that, since its inception, NAFSMSAM has been pivotal to the capacity building efforts of NAF medical personnel. He noted that the School has successfully organized 3 sets of post-advanced upgrading courses for 135 airmen and airwomen of various medical trades in less than 2 years while a number of refresher courses for hygiene, laboratory, pharmacy and other medical personnel have also been conducted. The CAS mentioned that the College of Nursing has concluded plans to admit the second set of students for general nursing training. He therefore commended the Commandant and the entire School Management for the achievements and urged them not to rest on their oars.
While congratulating the graduands, the CAS urged them to bring to bear the professional skills acquired during the course to ensure improved healthcare service delivery in the various NAF medical facilities. He encouraged them to strive to ensure that they exhibit positive and friendly attitude to all patients while discharging their duties with utmost professionalism. “Be reminded that training and learning are continuous. You are therefore expected to continuously seek knowledge and explore available self-improvement options”, he added.
In his remarks, the Chief of Medical Services (CMS), Air Commodore Gideon Bako, who was represented by the Director, Professions Allied to Medicine (DPAM), Headquarters NAF, Group Captain David Babalola, appreciated the CAS for his untiring support for the infrastructural and professional development of the NAF Medical Services Branch. The CMS noted that the commitment of the CAS was not only in the provision of the platform for the conduct of medical upgrading courses but also to the successful take-off of the general nursing training at the School. The rapidity and intensive nature of the courses, he said, show the determination of the Medical Services Branch to address identified gaps in the proficiency of NAF tradesmen. The CMS noted that the courses were designed to improve the trade proficiency and qualify the airmen and airwomen for upgrading. The CMS noted that currently, only the College of Nursing had commenced academic activities at the School while the CAS had approved the activation of College of Allied Medical Sciences at NAFSMSAM.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commandant NAFSMSAM, Air Commodore Glenn Nkanang, expressed his appreciation to the CAS for his tireless support to the School. He noted that the upgrading training was used as an opportunity to inculcate in the students positive attitudes in their services to patients. According to him, the School has been leading in the inculcation of positive attitude and reorientation of NAF medical personnel through its courses, seminars and workshops.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Vice Marshal
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force
12 December 2020