The fifth training program of the training project launched by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) for 12 OIC member states in cooperation with the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) and the Ministries of Health of Turkey and Sudan was organized in the Gambia.

As a continuation of the activities initiated at the end of 2017 as part of TİKA’s Emergency Medicine Capacity Building Program (ATKAP), Sudan and Turkey continue to collaborate to carry out training activities for third countries.

As part of the project, TİKA, the SESRIC, and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey provided the “Introduction to Disaster and Emergency Response (ADG+)” training to a total of 228 Sudanese healthcare providers, including 58 trainers, in 2017 and 2018 and completed the activities to build human capacity in Sudan. This training aimed to create the local trainer pool that Sudan needs to fulfill its leading role in emergency healthcare services in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

As of 2019, 58 Sudanese participants who became trainers by completing the 1-year training program started to share their experiences with the healthcare providers in 12 OIC member states where TİKA offices are located. After Djibouti, Chad, Somalia, and Guinea, the training courses, which are highly important to ensure coordination among the OIC countries and build common capacity for response to disasters and emergencies, were also held in the Gambia.

With the support and coordination of TİKA, a team of Sudanese and Turkish trainers gave the “Introduction to Disaster and Emergency Response (ADG+)” training to 28 doctors, nurses, and first aid specialists determined by the Ministry of Health of the Gambia. It is aimed to build trainer capacity in the Gambia by selecting prospective candidates among trainees, offering advanced courses to them, and training them as trainers.

Certificates were presented to trainees according to their level of success at a ceremony attended by the Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Banjul İsmail Sefa Yüceer, Secretary-General of the Gambia Red Cross Society Alasan Senghore, and officials of the Ministry of Health of the Gambia. Attending the ceremony on behalf of Undersecretary of the Minister of Health of the Gambia, Dr. Charles Roberts, Manager of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, expressed his gratitude to TİKA for its support in such an important training program.

With ATKAP, TİKA conveys Turkey’s experience in the health industry to different parts of the world. TİKA aims to continue the project in 2020 with the ADG+ training courses to be held in 7 OIC member states.