Rigworld Training Centre (RTC), an indigenous Ghanaian company has presented an ambulance to the sick bay of the Regional Maritime University (RMU).
The ambulance, which is estimated to cost over 20,000 euros, is fully fitted with modern state of the art equipment and is said to be the first-ever to be dedicated to the sick bay of RMU in its 60 years of existence.
The donation of the ambulance comes as a big relief to the university community as it will help deal with emergencies in a timely manner.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony RMU campus, Managing Director of Rigworld Training Centre, Steve Taylor said the donation was done to support the RMU in the development of its programmes.
He said, “It gives us an opportunity to help support them in the development of their programmes, in addition to that it helps them to increase their capabilities in terms of support for their safety and their emergency response so, it is a celebration for RMU in as much as it is a celebration for Rigworld.”
Rigworld Training Centre also announced plans were far advanced to construct a training centre similar to its centre in Takoradi in the premises of RMU.
“What is happening is that we currently have a 10-year memorandum of understanding with RMU after which we have signed a collaborative agreement in which the parties have made certain pledges to each other. RMU have allocated two acres of land to us to replicate the training facility we have in Takoradi here on their campus to cater for the Accra market. The facility shall also serve all the member states of RMU. We have the financial muscles and intend to invest some huge sums putting up that ultra-modern training facility,” Kwame Nyampong, a member of the legal team of Rigworld Group disclosed.
Vice Dean of the RMU, Prof. Elvis Nyarko expressed delight at the gesture by the RTC saying the ambulance will go a long way to prevent the unconventional ways they used in times past to convey their sick and injured persons to nearby health facilities.
He said, “Actually, we’ve needed it for so long. Since this sick bay has been here for close to 60 years, this is the first time in our history that we are actually having an ambulance dedicated to us.”
Prof. Nyarko was optimistic the relationship between the two institutions in developing capacity in offshore training will continue to grow.
“I believe this is a big first step towards our collaboration to work together to develop capacities to provide emergency response and training to Ghanaians and to other members of West African states and hopefully we can take it further and do much better with the relationship that we have developed,” the RMU Vice Dean said.
Rigworld Training Centre recently signed an accreditation partnership with the RMU to train personnel on International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations.
The training covers two certified IMO mandatory short courses for which trainees will be issued with two certificates; one jointly signed by RTC and RMU and the other singed by the Ghana Maritime Authority.
Among some of the course that would be offered are Elementary First Aid, Personal Survival Techniques, Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities as well as Basic Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting.
Others are International Ship and Port Facility, Security Code, Oil/Chemical Tanker Familiarization, Efficient Deck Hand, Lifeboat, Proficiency in Survival Craft Rescue Boat, Radar/ARPA Simulator Training as well as International Safety Management.