The United Nations has commended the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly those manning the Nigerian Level 2 Hospital in the Frontline in Timbuktu Mali, for the critical work they are doing in a difficult environment.
The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nation’s Secretary General, Joanne Adamson gave the commendation during an online interaction with Defence Correspondents, which had the Nigerian Level 2 Hospital Commander’s also briefing on their experience.
The UN representative said “my message is profound gratitude to the Nigerian contingent in not only the Timbuktu, but elsewhere in Mali mission, your work is critical in being able to operate in this very difficult environment and I have personal experience of meeting with you in Timbuktu and I know you have been on the front line in the battle against Covid, you have face environmental difficulties, heat, sand etc, which makes running the equipments difficult for men and women”.
Joanne Adamson further appreciated the Defence Correspondents from Nigeria for joining the interactive session and said the presence of the military personnel from Nigeria was a message of solidarity to the Malians and also to the international community which is working alongside the Malians.
Also speaking to the reporters during the online interactive session, the Commander of the Nigerian Medical contingent 7, Lieutenant Colonel Akingbemila Ayola Olusola, said their main role and focus as a medical team under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) is to ensure that the hospital is always position for prompt delivery of medical services, and care to united nation’s peace keepers and other staff of MINUSMA.
“By doing this,we encourage and give confidence to the troops that are carrying out peace keeping operations in various parts of Mali knowing fully well that when injured, the Nigerian level two hospital is able to take care of them, do damage control surgeries, carry out emergency resuscitation, carry out limb and life saving medical interventions to better their chances of survival and by so doing, Nigeria is contributing its quota to the peace and stability of Mali” said the Commander of the contingent, Lieutenant Colonel Akingbemila Olusola.
Fielding questions from the reporters on issues of hostility against the hospital, the Commander said the Nigerian level two hospital was structurally built to protect both the personnel and people attending the hospital and there are other security architecture put in place to protect the facility.
He further said the hospital is located within the integrated super camp that has an all round defence and in terms of vaccination for COVID-19, the UN has made it available to troops contributing countries and the Nigerian level 2 hospital plays a key role in the vaccination with equipments supplied from both Nigeria and United Nations.
Also speaking on what it meant to be working in a US Peace Keeping Mission in Mali, Squadron Leader, Solomon Danji Joshua who is the head of the Medical Evacuation Team said the presence of the Nigerian Level two hospital in Timbuktu MINUSMA was a mission enabler which gives confidence to the troops.
He pointed out that MINUSMA is one of the dangerous missions embarked upon by the United Nations it has been a great pleasure providing service to save lives.
“By virtue of being the next most senior Doctor after the Commander, I also double as the Chief clinician, where I coordinate the activities of all the doctors, we have troops deployed all across Mali, in view of the unprecedented security challenges and difficult terrains, the best way to access medical care usually is by air transport and the presence of this facility in this mission serves as a moral booster for all the troops, bearing in mind that even if they should find themselves in difficult situations in terms of casualty, or sicknesses, they have where to fall back to” said the Squadron Leader, Solomon Danji Joshua.
Timbuktu is a historical City in Mali, Sector west where the United Nation’s Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission is ongoing and the Nigerian Level 2 Hospital, a Secondary Healthcare Facility in Mali, provides secondary care for all UN peace keepers domiciled in Timbuktu and some from sector centre.
The hospital also provides damage control, surgical capabilities to injured peace keepers, and takes care of united nation’s staff serving in Timbuktu. It was inducted into the UN mission on 20th December 2020, and consist of highly professional staff drawn from the Armed Forces of Nigeria, consisting of Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force.
The interactive forum which was moderated by Yaye Sene, the Media Relations at MINUSMA in Mali, was aimed at keeping the moral of the troops high, to inform the Nigerian public about the external operation of the Nigerian Armed Forces and to explain in detail their daily life on the ground. Also in attendance was Major Fidelia Akuejinwa Nwankwo who is part of the Nigerian contingent.
Lateefah Ibrahim
