OUAGADOUGOU: A collaborative effort between the Emergency Medical Assistance Service (SAMU) and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has successfully trained 30 health professionals in emergency medicine, aimed at improving response to disaster-related emergencies. The program, conducted from October 21 to 25, 2024, in Ouagadougou, involved participants from diverse medical backgrounds in order to enhance patient care during critical situations.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the training included general practitioners, emergency physicians, emergency nurses, anesthetists, and state-registered nurses. The participants engaged in comprehensive learning activities such as presentations, practical workshops, role plays, and simulation exercises, focusing on managing healthcare services in emergencies and resuscitation techniques. Wenceslas Koïta, Director of Sectoral Studies and Statistics (DGESS) of the Ministry of Health, emphasized that this initiative is part of efforts to operat
ionalize primary transport and enhance the capacity of stakeholders involved in emergency response.
Koïta highlighted the significance of the training in improving emergency management within healthcare facilities and praised the Turkish agency TIKA for its contribution, which aims to enhance care quality and reduce emergency-related mortality. He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to ongoing collaboration with TIKA, expressing intentions to further develop projects that benefit the local population.
Mirzet Muezzinoglu, one of the trainers, underscored the importance of human resources in emergency response and commended the ministry for its efforts in capacity building. Muezzinoglu noted that participants are now well-prepared for emergency situations, thanks to their meticulous engagement with the training modules. He also mentioned TIKA’s involvement in sectors such as education, agriculture, and infrastructure, with a global footprint spanning 62 countries and over 30,000 projects.
Dr. Eudoxie Soma,
a general practitioner at the Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital Center, expressed that the training was highly educational and would enable healthcare professionals to respond effectively and make informed decisions during disasters and emergencies.