From Olukayode Idowu, Maiduguri
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reaffirmed commitment to providing the requisite training of Its personnel on first aid, aimed at ensuring competency to carry out Informed first aid decision while attending to victims of disaster.
The Director General of NEMA, Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Mohammed (Rtd) stated this during the opening ceremony of a four-day training on Basic First Aid on emergency Response, organized by NEMA in collaboration with Nigerian Red Cross Society, Borno state chapter.
The NEMA chief, who was represented by Assistant Director Human Resources (Training) Usman Aji, said, the Training was geared towards building the capacity of staff in responding to disasters and emergencies.
In his remarks, the Acting Zonal Coordinator, NEMA North East Zone Chonoko Ishaya said improving staff competency and operational readiness remains the cardinal objectives of the current leadership of NEMA, while urging the staff to take the training seriously, stressing that response involves situations where staff must determine whether the situation is safe and at the same time identifying and treating the problems of casualties.
On his part, the representative of the Secretary, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Borno State, Babagana Usman said the training was targeted at updating the staff of NEMA with skills and techniques of live saving during emergencies.
Some of the staff of NEMA among the participants at the training, told journalists that they have leant a lot and hope to use the training in response activities for victims of insurgency and other disasters in the Zone.