Kenya Parliament Members Visited Kenyan Trainees in Israel ,8 March 2011

Kenya Parliament Members Visited Kenyan Trainees in Israel

8 March 2011

As part of its ongoing effort to expand its emergency medical and ambulance services, and in honour of the UN campaign for the International Year of Forests, 26 participants from the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and representatives from the Kisimu District Hospital are hosted by Magen David Adom in Israel (IMDA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to an Advanced First Aid - Training of Trainers program, from 7 - 21 March, 2011.

On the second day of the training, the participants had a special visit by a distinguished Parliament delegation that came to congratulate them. The honorable delegation was spearheaded by Hon. Kenneth Marende, MP Speaker of the National Assembly, and accompanied by Israeli Foreign Ministry officials. Among the delegation members were:  Lt. Gen. Augostino S.K. Njoroge (Rtd.) Ambassador, Kenya Embassy, Hon. Charles C. Keter, MP., Member, Labour and Social Welfare Committee, Hon. David Were, MP., Chairperson, Transport, Public Works Committee, Hon. David Ngugi, Vice-Chairperson, Local Authorities Committee, Mr. Isaac K. Wangunyu, Third Secretary, Kenya Embassy, Hon. Adan W. Keynan, MP., Chairperson, Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Zakayo Mogere - Clerk Assistant and Secretary to the delegation, Mr. David Mugonyi  -  Media relations Officer, Mr. Caleb Odoola - Security officer to the speaker. The visit highlighted the strong commitment for promoting long-lasting cooperation, shared by Kenya and Israel.

The guests from Kenya participate in an Advanced First Aid Training of Trainers program.  The training has been customized for Kenya to address needs specific to Kenya, such as climate and tropical related illnesses and injuries related to animals.  Managing trauma, shock, gun shot wounds, and evacuations are among other topics included in the training.  The participants will conduct study tours at MDA facilities and others (such as Poriya hospital, MDA national command and control center, blood services, airborne services, aqua rescue, Arava rescue unit and more).

The course includes intensive simulations and exercises to manage mass-casualty events, and will be concluded by a drill that will simulate multi casualty incidents event.  At end of two weeks with MDA in Israel, KWS and KRCS will have added capacity to train additional EMTs, thereby enhancing the quality and availability of emergency medical services in Kenya.