By ITOHAN ABARA-LASERIAN

Nesto Aviation Services (Nestav) has entered into partnership with ADAC HEMS Academy of Germany, and Kasi Healthcare Offshore and Aeromedical Unit to inaugurate a regional air ambulance and HEMS Service.

The tripartite partnership was sealed with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday night in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the regional air ambulance and the HEMS for oil and gas sector will focus on servicing ‘golden hour’ medical emergencies occurring at remote locations across West Africa and offshore locations in the Gulf of Guinea.

Golden hour is the one hour period from offshore to where there is proper medical care after an incident in an oil rig.

Dr Ernest Obiejesi, Chairman of Nestoil Group, said that the partnership represented a significant step forward in providing critical medical care across offshore and remote locations in the Gulf of Guinea.

According to Obiejesi, the partnership will pave way for the development of aeromedical capacity across more than 180 remote oil and gas locations within the Gulf of Guinea.

He said that the groundbreaking partnership would provide a dedicated critical care aircraft for injured personnel in the golden hour.

“These include transport for stroke victims, heart attack patients and traumatic injuries with complications, to those who would otherwise have limited access to emergency services in the golden hour.

“By bringing together our collective strengths, we are establishing a world-class air ambulance and HEMS programme that will have a profound impact on the health and well-being of workers in oil industry across the region,” he said.

The Medical Director of Kasi Healthcare Offshore, Dr Dayo Osholowu, said that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was robust with good regulations but lagging in the knowledge of operating air ambulance rescue services.

Osholowu said that although the project was focusing on accident victims at oil rigs in remote locations, the organisation was still discussing with government on deployment of helicopters during accidents involving over 30 people per time.

According to him, the pilots are trained to rescue victims on a daily basis.

“The project is sustained by the oil and gas industry and using the spare capacity for public safety,” he said.

The Head of Training, ADAC HEMS Academy, Mr Phillip Lex, said that the company was ready to deploy its expertise in aeromedical training to ensure the success of the project.

“We are committed to establishing a training site linked to the ADAC HEMS Academy that is recognised by the American Heart Association.

“We are also consulting on all aspects of the configuration and establishment of HEMS in Nigeria under this project.

“Our knowledge and experience in aeromedical training will ensure the success of this programme and empower local healthcare professionals,” he said.

On his part, the General Manager, Nestav, Mr Ehi Uadiale, said that the company had acquired two King aircraft to be deployed for the service.

Uadiale said that the objective was to reduce the rescue time to bring an injured person from offshore to get proper medical care. (Text, excluding headline: NAN)

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