NAF boss advocates nationwide expansion of air mobile first aid training

Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, the Chief of the Air Staff, has encouraged the implementation of the Nigerian Air Force College of Nursing Sciences’ innovative Air Mobile First Aid training across the country, stating that it marks a vital move toward revolutionising emergency medical care in Nigeria.

Air Marshal Abubakar explained that the Air Mobile First Aid programme—structured to prepare nurses for swift interventions under challenging environments such as aeromedical evacuations and remote settings—has the capacity to serve as a key element within the broader national nursing training framework.

In a statement issued Saturday by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, it was noted that the Air Chief, represented by Air Vice Marshal Anthony Ekpe, Chief of Medical Services, made the remarks during the matriculation of 120 newly enrolled National Diploma I (Set 6) students at NAFCONS, located at NAF Base Kaduna.

“This initiative is not just a military innovation; it is a national asset.

“It is time we scale this programme beyond NAFCONS. The future of emergency healthcare in Nigeria depends on it,” he was quoted as saying.

He went on to applaud the joint effort between NAFCONS and the Nigerian Air Force School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine, describing it as a shining example of readiness in crisis and emergency medical care in demanding environments.

Air Marshal Abubakar praised NAFCONS for its continued excellence in nursing instruction.

He acknowledged the school’s success in developing capable and empathetic medical personnel, as well as its dedication to uniting military and civilian learners within a values-based learning atmosphere.

In his earlier remarks, Squadron Leader Boyi Elisha, Commandant of NAFCONS, expressed gratitude to the CAS, the Chief of Medical Services, and oversight bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the National Board for Technical Education for their unwavering backing.

He pointed out the institution’s flawless pass rate in national licensing assessments and reiterated its pledge to prepare “world-class nurses for civilian and military service.”