Four hundred and thirty-five Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) have passed out at the Paramedic and Emergency Care Training School(PECTS) at Nkenkasu in the Offinso North District in the Ashanti Region. It brings the number of EMTs trained in readiness for the deployment of the ambulance service to 2,547

This year’s group, including only three females, were all trained as professional drivers , who are relied upon to respond to emergencies in the country with a high degree of capability and efficiency.

Speaking at the passing out ceremony at Nkenkasu on Tuesday , the Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, said the drivers were trained to carry out procedures such as bleeding control, positive pressure ventilation with a bag valve mask, and insertion of oropharyngeal airways to maintain patent airway.
“ Other skills acquired include insertion of nasopharyngeal airways, supplemental oxygen administration, and splinting, including full spinal immobilization”, he emphasized..

Some dignitaries present at the ceremony were Prof. Ahmed Nuhu Zakariah, the Chief Executive Officer, National Ambullance Service; Mrs Tina Mensah, a Deputy Munster of Health; Nana Kwaku Dua II, the acting President of the Offinso Traditional Council, and Mr David Kwasi Asare, DCE for Offinso North. The event also saw the out-dooring of the NAS Regiment Band, and the inauguration of the college’s auditorium.

Mr Agyemang-Manu cautioned EMT drivers not to abuse the use of the sirens on the vehicles they drove and said the ministry would not hesitate to punish anyone who flouted the rules of the service. That notwithstanding,he gave assurance of the government’s commitment toadequately resource the NAS to enable it to improve on its emergency response capabilities and help save lives. He appealed to transport organisations, such as the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA), to allow the NAS and other emergency services to have easy access to the roads as they performed their duties, saying that doing so would contribute greatly to save lives

Again, he said he was reliably informed that other organizations have started sending their staff for training at the college, which he said was commendable, and entreated the various corporate, public and private organizations to emulate the initiative to help build an effective and efficient emergency respond system for the country.

Mr Agyeman-Manu, on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, extended his deepest condolences to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the people of Offinso for the demise of the Offinsomanhene, Nana Wiafe Akenteng II, whose one-week observation is scheduled for Monday, November 29, 2021.