Healthcare Providers Trained in Türkiye Train Their Colleagues in Their Own Countries

5 Nigerien and 5 Gambian healthcare providers who were selected among the trainees in the “Introduction to Disaster and Emergency Response Training (ADG+),” held in the Gambia and Niger in 2020 as part of the Emergency Medicine Capacity Building Program (ATKAP), developed by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), and who participated in the “Training of Trainers,” held in Türkiye in December 2021, continue to train their colleagues in their own countries.

The first training taught by the healthcare providers who participated in the training of trainers in Türkiye as part of the training program developed by TİKA and the Ministry of Health of the Gambia was held in Bwiam, the Gambia, from December 14 to 16, 2021 for 35 healthcare providers. On the last day of the training, certificates were presented to all the trainees at a closing ceremony attended by Mehmet Akif Eyigün, TİKA’s Coordinator in Banjul, and Dr. Mamady Cham, CEO of Bwiam General Hospital. In his speech at the ceremony, Cham stated that Emergency Response was a new concept in the Gambia and needed improvement, and thanked TİKA for the training they held.

The second training was held by TİKA and the Ministry of Health of the Gambia at Kanifing Hospital, one of the major hospitals in West Coast Region in Gambia, from January 24 to 28, 2022. During the program, 31 healthcare providers completed their theoretical and applied training and were awarded certificates.

The certificate presentation ceremony held on January 28, 2022 was attended by Tolga Bermek, the Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Banjul; Mehmet Akif Eyigün, TİKA’s Coordinator in Banjul; Ousman Ceesay, representative of the Ministry of Health of the Gambia; and the managers of Kanifing Hospital. In his speech at the ceremony, Ambassador Bermek thanked TİKA and the Ministry of Health of the Gambia, stating that he was pleased that the trainees selected among nearly 70 Gambian healthcare providers who attended the two training programs held in the Gambia with the support of TİKA became trainers by completing the training of trainers in Izmir and were teaching this program in the Gambia.

TİKA and the Ministry of Health of the Gambia are planning to hold at least two other training programs to be taught by Gambian trainers at Bansang Hospital and Banjul EFS Hospital in the Gambia in 2022.

25 Nigerien emergency health professionals were trained

25 Nigerien emergency health professionals working in various hospitals in Niamey, the capital of Niger, were trained by local trainers from January 31 to February 4, 2022, with the support of TİKA.

Niger-Türkiye Friendship Hospital provided ambulances, equipment, and staff for the training held on the Main Campus of Maarif Schools under the supervision of 2 Turkish Emergency Medicine Specialists. As part of the program, theoretical and applied training was provided on current response methods to be applied in case of emergencies and disasters.

Mustafa Türker Arı, the Republic of Türkiye’s Ambassador to Niamey, and directors of the Ministry of Public Health, Population, and Social Affairs of Niger attended the theoretical and applied training as guests and stated that they were pleased with the ongoing cooperation between the two countries. Addressing the participants during his visit, Ambassador Arı noted that health and education were two priority areas in the bilateral cooperation between Niger and Türkiye, and that TİKA has organized training programs for many professional groups and carried out more than 100 emergency and development assistance projects in Niger.  

In his speech at the certificate ceremony held after the 5-day training, İrfan Pamuk, TİKA’s Coordinator in Niamey, stated that TİKA continues to touch lives with its projects and that they aim to hold these training programs throughout Niger.

Nearly 500 healthcare providers from 9 African countries participated in the training programs “Introduction to Disaster and Emergency Response (ADG+),” designed for the members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye and launched in 2017 as part of TİKA’s Emergency Medicine Capacity Building Program (ATKAP). A total of 45 successful trainees from 9 countries were given the ADG+ Training of Trainers, held in Urla, Izmir, in December 2021 in order to form local teams of trainers in these countries.

Thus, the first training programs taught by local trainers to their colleagues in their own countries were held in the Gambia and Niger.