A contingent of 62 Nigerian medical personnel who have undergone training at the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre (MLAILPKC) has been deployed to Mali for peacekeeping duties under the auspices of the Multi-Dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA).
The deployment was after a three-week intensive and comprehensive training in line with the United Nations pre-deployment modules.
Addressing the graduands at the Centre in Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna, the Chief of Training, Army Headquarters, Major General Abdulsalam Ibrahim said the personnel had received training that qualified them to be deployed in the United Nations Multi-Dimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
They were drawn mainly from the Nigerian Army Medical Corps
Ibrahim, represented by Brig-Gen Hassan Dada explained that the graduation was in line with the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in deploying quality peacekeepers as part of its contributions to the quest for global peace and security.
He said the pre-deployment training given to the troops was aimed at equipping them with the knowledge and expertise to function in peace support operations.
“It further provides them with skills required to protect themselves, the United Nations equipment and the loyal citizens of the host nation within their area of responsibility, while carrying out the mission’s mandate”
“More specifically, the training was to make them adequately prepared to deploy effectively in order to provide the specialist medical support that is required by the mission.“
Ibrahim mentioned that Mali being a fellow West African country has faced serious political, security, socio-economic, humanitarian and human rights challenges after a coalition of Taureq and other terrorist groups attacked and captured some territories in the country in January 2012.
He urged the troops to maintain standards when inducted into the mission and also cautioned them to avoid ugly incidents that could tarnish the professional image of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the nation in general.
The Chief of Training warned them from deviating from the rules of engagement assigned them on respecting the cultural and religious sensitivity of the people of the host nation.
“You must not equally involve yourselves in the trafficking of illicit substances of any kind, also note that the United Nations maintains a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, the Nigerian Armed Forces and indeed the Nigerian Government will also not tolerate the contravention of this policy,“ Ibrahim emphasized.
The Commandant of MLAILPKC, Major General Auwal Fagge said troops were prepared for the multidimensional challenges in contemporary peacekeeping environments which had become very dynamic and complex.
He noted that the troops had undergone four phases of training which includes; weapon training, core pre-employment training, casualty evacuation, management of medical supplies and provision of humanitarian services, among others.
Fagge urged the troops to continue to work hard to improve on the skills they acquired to positively project the image of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
PIAK
