PRESS RELEASE Nr 16/2015
09 April 2015
A Medic Training for Somalia Coast Guard organized by the EU maritime capacity building mission took place in Mogadishu from April 5th to 8th. EUCAP Nestor Medical Doctor and Advisor, Dr. Gerald Ripberger shared his knowledge with five Somali officers from the Mogadishu Military Hospital connected to the Coast Guard, aged from 21 to 54.
Among the topics of the medical course are: Personal safety, basic life support, trauma management, treatment of selected diseases, use of automated external defibrillator (AED) and use of personal trauma kits.
The military hospital in Mogadishu started operating in August 2014. EUCAP Nestor provided expertise to support building of medical capacity as at the moment there is little equipment available and there are only a few trained persons at Mogadishu Military Hospital.
One of the expected outcomes of the medical training course organized by EUCAP Nestor is to enable the trained personnel to provide Advanced First Aid in case of need or emergency.
Every day, members of the Somali Coast Guard officers are exposed to many risks. If they get injured they need to have a good medical support in the background. Being able to deliver First Aid and Advanced First Aid is also a tool for the Coast Guard to save lives at Sea in Search and Rescue activities.
One of the expected outcomes of the medical training course organized by EUCAP Nestor is to enable the trained personnel to provide Advanced First Aid in case of need or emergency.
As the EU Mission handed over equipment at the end of the course, now the Somali officers got the necessary tools to provide Advanced First Aid. During a closing ceremony with the participation of the Head of the Somali Coast Guard Admiral Nurey, 1 AED, 1 trauma bag and 12 personal trauma kits were donated.
On that occasion Admiral Nurey thanked EUCAP Nestor for the continuous support of the Coast Guard, expressing willingness and hope for the possibility of having more officers trained in basics and also in advanced medical levels.
Background
EUCAP Nestor is a civilian EU mission, under the auspices of the Common Security and Defence Policy, which assists host countries in the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean region in strengthening their capacity to ensure maritime security and in particular to fight piracy.
ENDS
