7 comments so far.Certificates presented for AFM and ERRC training project
 Email item
|  Print item
|
|
The Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, Brigadier Martin G. Xuereb and Dr Raymond C. Xerri, the President of the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps (ERRC) this morning presented certificates to the AFM Combat Medic instructors who earlier this year completed a medical training programme a component of which took place in Italy.
Earlier this year, three AFM combat medics attended for a refresher training programme in order to maintain their current status as instructors in combat live saving and as combat medics.
This training was organised by the ERRC and is part of a European Union Life Long Learning Program projects for which the ERRC are the promoters. The ERRC also provided the training material required for the course.
Surgeon Captain Matthew Psaila who coordinated and supervised this training project said that the training carried out was divided in two. The first part comprised of a five day programme in Gozo followed by two weeks in Italy
During the training exercises held in Italy, several topics were covered. These included specialised skill training such as venous access, blood letting, intravenous fluid administration, creation of secondary surgical airway, wound cleaning and decompression of a collapsed lung.
Training also incorporated casualty evacuation in times of crises with special emphasis on care under fire. VIP/ Security first Aid and training for Nuclear, Biological, Radiation and Chemical threats were areas that were also addressed during this course.
At the end of the course the combat medics were invited by Brig. Gen. Dr. Orsini to attend and view the training facilities at the Italian military medical school in Rome.
Col H Stivala, head of the AFM Training Branch said that this was part of a force wide effort to be increasingly proactive in terms of training. He stated that overseas component to this training enhances the scope of the training the exposes AFM participants to novel scenarios.
The ERRC President explained that the partnership with the AFM is going from strength to strength. He said that both organisations intend to reach the level of excellence the country deserves.
During the presentation ceremony, the ERRC also donated specialised medical equipment that will be of use especially to the rescue section based at the Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta.
Who coordinated the training, Surgeon Captain Matthew Psaila of the AFM or the ERRC ? The ERRC has got no authority where it comes to the instruction of the IHL (International Humanitarian Law). Can the 2 organisations above stop fooling around after the comedy of the closure of the Red Cross Gozo Branch !! We never learn.
Dear Mr. Galea,
I am the Project Coordinator, for the italian phase, under the authority of the Italian Ministry of Defence, Secretariat of the Minister and for Special Advisor of the Repulic President for Security wich take part of the training.
While i admit that this article is partial, and i am writing to the author to correct it, your comment is complete inappropriate for two reasons :
a) the training is about medical and not IHL
b) AFM as every Armed Forces of the world has full duty and responsibility about IHL, including internal training as per art. 77 Common of IHL itself.
By the way, to full answer about your criticism, i am fully qualified both as LEGAD (i hope you know what it is in IHL) and IHL Instructor and EWG-NLW Advisor for this matters.
Best Regards.
Dott. Marco Filippi
Mr Galea,
kindly learn the difference between organising and co-ordinating. They are two completely different terms. Then you can comment.
Furthermore, this training will benefit us all as anyone (me, you and our families) can come in need of the trained combat medics at one point. This is not the place to vent your issues with ERRC. And please, show some respect for our Armed Forces.
ES
Dear Mr Galea,
Before you comment, kindly check that you know what you are talking about. First of all, may I point out that IHL has nothing to do with the project. The project is about combat medicine. The said project was organized by ERRC, the latter being the project promoter. Surgeon Captain Matthew Psalia supervised the aspects of the medical skills coved in the project.
Going back to IHL, kindly note that your facts are wrong. There is nothing in the law that says that no one else can educate, teach and instruct IHL principles or what so ever. In fact a lot of universities offer IHL as part of their law degrees.
• The international Red Cross is a promoter of IHL as laid down by its statutes.
• Promotion of IHl is done/ can be done by several bodies, NGOs , such as ( a few examples):
o Human Rights Education Associates (HREA)
o The International Association of Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection
o The International Institute of Humanitarian Law
o The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
o American Society of International Law
o International humanitarian law research initiative at Haward university.
Thus your comment that ERRC & AFM are not authorised in IHL instruction is completely wrong. Mai I also point out that the use of the Red Cross Sign is regulated by international conventions. Red Cross societies are given permission by the respective governments on the behalf of the UN to use it.
We would be pleased to offer you training in IHL if you wish too.
Can you kindly enlighten us what the red cross has to do with this project? The project has nothing to do with(quoting you ) the comedy of the closure of the Red Cross Gozo Branch. I think you are mixing facts.
Etienne Micallef
Secretary General
ERRC
One wonders what kind of first aid training is given, especially when one hears of stories of a refugee’s body left with hands tied at the back in from of the Paola Health centre. The Detention services fall under (or partly) the AFM ? No, Mr Spiteri ?
Instead of wasting money to dress up or train soldiers as Combat medics, we should invest more in medical schools and courses at the University and invest in first aid training for schools. I hope Mr Micallef agrees with this. I hope he does not have a hidden agenda, or maybe now he wants to joint the Italian Armed forces.
Apart from this, everybody knows that the training was not carried out on the AFM choppers but on the Italian Mission Augusta Bell which are hardly used for SARs except when the AFM choppers are flying somewhere else. Everybody was saying that training AFM staff as combat medics is a wastage of money. Apart from this most Maltese and Gozitans are fed up of this Italian interference. Anyway some people have a lot of financial gains from such things.
Dear Mr S Galea,
Again you are mixing things. Anyway first of all first aid training has nothing to do with combat medic training. Although related, combat medic training is more highly specialized.
Combat medic training is a highly specialized area, that cant be offered at universities etc.
Regarding my wishes etc its not your business. Rest assured I am proud of the Maltese Army.
By the way training was also done on the aluette helicopter. Aluette helicopters are used for regular SAR mission, where as the AB212 is used under other certain conditions. I tend to disagree with your statements saying that combat medics are waste of money etc.
Kindly note that if you wish to enter into the technicalities of the project, you may wish to contact me, so we can show you the relevant papers and so forth.
Dear Mr. Galea,
from our side I want to add a couple of things. Combat Medics are trained as well on AFM Air Wing Helicopters as well : you can find pictures on our Facebook pages. If you browse the Internet you find relevant informations on real SAR and MEDEVAC operations carried out some of these and past combat medics.
Second point our “italian interference” is international cooperation which is, other than a good idea, a state obligation according IAMSAR and INSARAG agreement which Malta are part of.
And adding a special notice to Mr. Micallef reply, both EAemtP and ERRC are voluntary and non-profit organization and as far as i know not only one which spent more money in this project than EU allocated money.
Also for our side you and journalists and any others are more than welcome in seeing our bank account and transcripts.
Dott. Marco Filippi