Verification of Equivalency workshop for Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS) Ambulance Teams

During October-November, MDA and the PRCS have conducted a "Verification of Equivalency" program, designated to the PRCS ambulance teams. The program, a 4 days workshop to 40 PRCS ambulance teams, was a joint initiative of the neighboring National Societies - MDA and the PRCS.

The "Verification of Equivalency" workshop took place in two sessions in MDA station in Jerusalem, with the guidance of MDA instructors, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegates in Israel and the directorate of the PRCS. The first session for the verification of the teams took place on October 21-24, and the second took place three weeks later, on November 11-14. Each session included 20 PRCS participants.

The workshop provided the ambulance teams with theoretical overview as well as a practical experience, in which the PRCS participants shared their experience with MDA ambulance teams while joining them to day and night shifts.

The first stage of the program was concluded on October 24th, and the second stage came to its end on November 14th. The participants were granted with their certificates in a moving closing ceremony. Representatives from the ICRC delegation in Israel, who generously support the program and its organizing, and who kindly accompanied the participants in all stages, took part in the event, as well as representatives from the PRCS and MDA.

At the closing ceremony of the second session, a representative of the PRCS participants kindly asked to deliver greetings on behalf of the participants. He expressed their gratitude to the directorate of MDA for their sincere efforts to execute the program, and the MDA instructors - the paramedics Igal Aviad and Osama Abu Moch from Sharon Region, and Jaber Azat from Jerusalem, who shared their experience and knowledge in theory and in practice. He took that opportunity to thank Mr. Ronen Bashari, the Director Jerusalem station, for the warm hospitality and the pleasant attention and care for their need during the session.

The chairman of the MDA executive committee, Dr. Noam Yifrach, greeted the PRCS ambulance teams for their participation in the program, and their humanitarian function, and expressed his wish for cooperation between the ambulance teams in delivering medical response to the patients in Jerusalem.