TİKA Continues ATKAP Trainings in Bosnia and Herzegovina

ATKAP trainings, which were started by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in 2017 to increase Bosnia and Herzegovina’s emergency medicine capacity, continue.

In 2017, TİKA in cooperation with Turkish Red Crescent and Alliance of International Doctors (AID), organized Emergency Medicine Intervention Introductory Trainings, Emergency Medicine Basic Training Module, Trainings for First Aid Volunteers, Trainings for First Aid Volunteer Trainers, Trainings on Equipping Community Leaders to Mitigate Disasters in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In 2018, ATKAP Bosnia and Herzegovina trainings started with Medical Search and Rescue (MAK) and Search and Rescue in Winter Conditions (KŞAK) Trainings. The trainings that were carried out between February 17-21 were concluded with a joint drill.

During Medical Search and Rescue Training, through a collaboration between TİKA and AID, a total of 31 people, 15 of which were from Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal Department of Civilian Protection personnel and 16 of which were from the UDM team, were trained. The goal was to provide the necessary skills to the medical search and rescue personnel that will carry out the operations on site by improving their capacity.

During Search and Rescue in Winter Conditions Training, through a collaboration between TİKA and Ankara Search and Rescue Association (ANSAR), a total of 27 people, 14 of which were from Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal Department of Civilian Protection personnel and 13 of which were from Novi Grad and Ilidza Municipalities Search and Rescue Teams, received training. The training enhanced the knowledge and skill levels of the trainees to allow them carry out rescue operations in the best way possible. Theoretical information was provided and practical applications were demonstrated on site for many issues such as the organization of the team, deployment style, arrival to the rescue location, rescue methods, transportation from the rescue location to the health institution as well as risks associated with the potential dangers.

After the joint drill that was organized on Mount Igman, 57 trainees were given their certificates. The ceremony was attended by Turkey’s Sarajevo Ambassador Haldun Koç, Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal Department of Civilian Protection Director Fahrudin Solak, TİKA Sarajevo Program Coordinator Ömer Faruk Alımcı and Novi Grad Municipality Deputy Mayor of Civil Affairs Fahrudin Kazazic.

Novi Grad Municipality Deputy Mayor of Civil Affairs Fahrudin Kazazic stated that the experience gained by the personnel responsible for Mountain Search and Rescue activities is very important and that they were very glad to have achieved this.

In his speech, Bosnia and Herzegovina Federal Department of Civilian Protection Director Solak explained that the training was very beneficial for their personnel, their long-standing cooperation with TİKA continued with these two trainings, and that the participation of trainees and instructors from various institutions was very important for sharing of the experience.

Turkey’s Sarajevo Ambassador Koç emphasized the importance of the ties between the two countries and remarked that the training program was very beneficial in terms of bringing Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s public institutions/organizations and NGOs together as well as achieving interaction and experience sharing.

TİKA Sarajevo Coordinator Alımcı pointed out that they TİKA has contributed to the development processes of Bosnia and Herzegovina with over 800 projects and activities since 1995 and that education and healthcare projects and activities are especially prioritized. Alımcı stated that five-day long trainings aimed to increase the human resources capacity on search and rescue and thanked Federal Department of Civilian Protection, Novi Grad Municipality, AID, ANSAR and UDM for their effective contributions to the two trainings.

The program ended as the successful trainees received their certificates and the instructors were given certificates of appreciation.