NSCDC trains officers in disaster management in A’Ibom

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has trained personnel of Akwa Ibom Command on the emergency rescue techniques to ensure effective use of the state-of-the-art ambulance donated to the command by the Federal Government.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the two-day training at the Command’s Headquarters in Uyo on Thursday, the State Commandant, Mr Eluyemi Eluwade, underscored the premium the Corps places on training and retraining of personnel as a bedrock of effective service delivery. 

Eluwade emphasised the importance of upscaling the knowledge base of first responders, especially those who will use the newly acquired Ambulance, whenever the need arises to be conversant with the vehicle in saving lives.

He said the personnel were equipped on modern rescue techniques by officials of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the area of emergency. 

The State Commandant thanked the President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Interior, Mr Tunde Ojo and Commandant General, Dr Abubakar Audi, for the donation of the state-of -the-art ambulance to the command.

“It has been our plans that our men and officers should be trained in the area of emergency and rescue operations. Thank God for today, it has come to pass.

“We thank them for being proactive and giving the personnel the opportunity to be trained by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the area of emergency,” Eluwade said.

The commandant said that the ambulance will be kept at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport Uyo as it is done across the state of the federation for the benefit of all residents and visitors.

He assured the good people of Akwa Ibom of the corps preparedness for emergency both natural and man-made.

Eluwade enjoined residents of Akwa Ibom to avail themselves of the opportunity and call on the corps at any time there is emergency across the state.

In her remarks, Deputy Corps Commandant Asim Bassey, said the Corps had been officially assigned the responsibility of undertaking rescues and emergencies nationwide.

Bassey, who is the Head of Department, Crisis/Disaster Management at the command said that no fewer than 30 personnel were retrained on tips of emergency and the usage of the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) ambulance.

“We have had several trainings but today, we are celebrating the ICU ambulance donated by the Federal Government, that necessarily calls for retraining of personnel, that’s what we have done for two days now.

“Personnel were reminded of other tips of emergency and the usage of the (MICU). We have trained over 30 personnel of the command,” Bassey said.

Bassey assured that the corps will continue to equip personnel of contemporary emergency rescue techniques in line with global standard.

Mr Demian Egwu, Team Lead of NEMA said the training was to prepare frontline officers to effectively respond to any medical emergency.

Egwu said the personnel were trained in the area of first responder medical stabilisation, which covers scene arrival and scene safety, physical and mental concerns, airways management and breathing.