Three Hundred and Ninety three Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), constituting the 11th batch of recruits of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) passing out at the Paramedics and Emergency Care Training School (PECTS) at Nkenkaasu in the Offinso North District of the Ashanti Region after a year’s intensive training.
The batch, comprising 199 males and 194 females, happened to be the 6th of EMTs to pass out from the Training School since its inception in November 2013.
They were taken trough bleeding control, positive pressure ventilation with bag valve mask, insertion of oropharyngeal, and nasopharryngeal airways, supplemental oxygen administration and splinting, including full spinal immobilisation over the one year period.
The 393 EMTs add up to 3,016 total EMT staff strength to man the 296 ambulance stations across the country.
Mahama Asei Seini, Deputy Minister of Health, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Daboya/Mankarigu Constituency in the Savanna Region, administered the swearing of the EMT Oath by the EMTs, who also pledged to maintain professional competence and always strive for clinical excellence in the delivery of patient care, as well as carry out medical instructions given by their superiors intelligently and loyally.
The National Ambulance Service Regimental Band, which performed at the ceremony, was outdoored during the passing out parade under the Command of EMT Ebenezer Osei Adjei, who was also adjudged the Best in Foot Drills.
A Deputy Minister of Health, Madam Tina Naa Ayele Gifty Mensah, who reviewed the passing out parade last Thursday, stressed that the training and passing out of the recruits was in line with the government’s aim of administering, maintaining and operating a nationwide comprehensive emergency medical services system throughout the country, aimed at reducing medical emergency deaths, injuries and permanent long-term disabilities.
She assured the audience that all efforts would be made by the government for the upgrade and construction of the required facilities at the school, and called on all well-meaning individuals, agencies or organisations that were in a position to support the government to achieve this.
Madam Tina Mensah further stated that the school had the long-term goal of becoming the training centre for paramedics in the Sub-Region, as well as a refresher courses centre for emergency care training for doctors, nurses, and other paramedics in the country.
Mr. Collins Augustine Ntim, Member of Parliament (MP) for Offinso North and Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, commended the Chief Executive Officer of NAS, and the management of PECTS for the progressive development of the training school which had come about as a result of the collaborative efforts of his good self and the Offinso Traditional Council, headed by the late Offinsomanhene, Nana Wiafe Akenten III, who released the large track of land for the establishment of the school.
He was happy that 15% of the intake was from the traditional area in reciprocation of the good gesture by the Traditional Council, and hoped to see a gradual progression in intake as the years go by.
The acting President of the Offinso Traditional Council, Nana Kwaku Duah II, who is also the Nifahene of the Offinso Traditional Area, appealed to the Ministry of Health to give priority to the infrastructural development of the school.
He lauded the decision to site the schools at Nkenkaasu, and encouraged the government to expand and develop the facility in order to produce the country’s paramedics.
Meanwhile, 28-year-old Emmanuel Kofi Yeboah, who excelled in all areas of the training, was adjudged the Overall Best Recruit.
Abdul-Karim Yesdad, 25, excelled as the Best in Academics, while Joan Achiamaa Amankwaa, 28, received the Best in Practicals award.
Twenty-six-year-old Doreen Kyei Mensah grabbed the CEOs award.
The award winners received refrigerators and TV sets solely sponsored by the National Investment Bank as their prizes.
