Seventy-nine Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel serving under the United Nations Guard Unit (UNGU) in Somalia have completed an intensive Battlefield Emergency First Aid (BEFA) training programme.
The course, delivered by the United Nations Transitional Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) in collaboration with the United Nations Support Office, was designed to bolster the troops’ ability to provide rapid and effective medical assistance in combat zones.
Participants were trained in a range of critical lifesaving techniques, including basic life support, wound and injury management, control of catastrophic bleeding, infection response, systematic casualty assessment, and treatment of hypothermia.
The practical, hands-on nature of the training underscored the vital role of immediate medical intervention in minimising fatalities and mitigating injury severity on the battlefield.
This initiative highlights UPDF-UNGU’s ongoing dedication to operational readiness and its significant contribution to international peacekeeping efforts in Somalia.