Experts have advised governments at all levels to integrate helicopter emergency services into disaster management.
They said that this would ensure natural disaster victims receive adequate and immediate help.
The experts spoke at the Emergency Rescue Airlift 2022 Forum, tagged: ‘Airlift emergency assistance for flood affected areas,’ held in Lagos.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), EAN Aviation, bemoaned that majority of rescue missions were done with ambulance and ground operations, stressing the need to integrate helicopters into the public safety use.
He urged the aviation industry to understand the roles of Helicopter Emergency Medical services (HEMS).
Odunowo said: “Nigeria has had its fair share of flood disasters this year. The deployment of additional helicopters will greatly help in saving more lives. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is willing to collaborate to ensure the safe operations of helicopters in fulfilling their roles as first responders to save lives.
“In Nigeria, there are strong indications that the climate is changing. When the climate gets warmer, it results in heavy rains, relative sea level rises around most shorelines consequently leading to extreme sea levels being experienced more frequently…”
“The consequences are devastating and can be practically seen in the way floods, this year alone, have ravaged hundreds of communities, killed people and displaced hundreds of thousands more from their homes.”
On his part, Sales Promotion Manager Customer Services Airbus Helicopters, Ralf Nicolai said Nigeria is at the beginning of using helicopter based emergency medical services.
“What I hear from people is that there are no aircrafts which are designated for that purpose and aircraft are only used on an ad hoc basis and that these aircrafts are not specifically equipped for emergency medical services.”
Area Sales Manager West Africa Sales and Customer Relations, Eric Gilles, urged the government to encourage the initiative by providing the infrastructure and encouraging helicopter services by giving them authorisation to fly over the city in case of a disaster.
On his part, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Bolaji Gaji called for partnership to strengthen flood and disaster management in the country.
