DAVAO CITY — Two Norwegian paramedics have offered to provide Davao City Central 911 with advanced medical equipment to further boost its operational capability.
Norwegian paramedics Christian Kopperud and Inge Heier met with Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to make the offer through a foundation.
Kopperud said hospitals in Norway are rapidly changing their (medical) gear very often but these could still be used for many years in providing security for the people.
He said Davao City is already very developed and advanced in terms of medical equipment.
“The mayor was optimistic and we need to have a guarantee that equipment will reach the destination. She (mayor) said that would be no problem and we will be getting the documentation because that will be our proof to our government and hospital that the equipment is received by the receiver,” Kopperud said.
Heier said the equipment would be given in a form of donation. The two paramedics would also train the staff of Central 911 on how to use the equipment.
They are also interested to conduct enhancement training for 911 personnel.
“It is also nice to exchange experiences with them (911) because we also have a lot to learn from paramedics working in an ambulance of 911 Davao,” Heier said.
Kopperud and Heier have also met with Central 911 Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel Jaldon. They are also planning to join the ambulance services of Central 911 and find out what they need.
“As of now we just discussed around, sharing knowledge and experience about the daily work. Our next step is to have a meeting and to see what they need in their everyday work. That is for now. The work will start when we go back to Norway in the mid of March and we will create the foundation,” Kopperud said.
He said Davao is more advanced compared to Manila and other cities that they have visited.
“Other cities in the Philippines are now looking at Davao City and we want to help and support them with that,” he added.
Kopperud also noted that Davao has one of the most advanced ambulance services throughout the Philippines. (PNA)
