The Nigerian Navy Benchmarks the SANDF’s Medical Support Services Article and photos by LS Dineo Maleka

A Nigerian Medical Delegation, led by Commodore (Cdre) T.G.S. Espelle, visited Simon’s Town on Wednesday, 11 November 2009. The delegation included Cdre A.S. Bira, Cdre B.A. Sani, Cdre A. Aja and Capt (NN) A.K. Elujoba. The delegation was accompanied by Director Naval Transformation, R Adm (JG) E. Ratala and Senior Staff Officer Human Resources Plans, Capt (SAN) R.B. Warrin from Navy Headquarters.

Cdre T.G.S. Espelle receives a gift from R Adm R.W. Higgs

The visit was arranged as an opportunity for our Nigerian counterparts to benchmark the medical support services provided for the SANDF in the Western Cape. This included a visit to the Institute of Maritime Medicine, which offers a medical support service to the SAN members based in the Simon’s Town area. The visit to the SAS QUEEN MODJADJI I and the SAN diving School proved to be most interesting, as it focused specifically on the SAN’s medical use and requirements on an operational level.

Cdre T.G.S. Espelle thanking Capt A. Rai, the Diving Medical Doctor for the information she shared with delegation	The delegation intrigued by some of the diving demonstrations

Commodore Espelle and his delegation, also visited Fleet Headquarters to pay a courtesy call on Flag Officer Fleet, R Adm R.W. Higgs, where they discussed issues of maritime interest. The Commodore was highly impressed by the SAN and the mark that it has made on the Southern African Development Countries. He said: “I am very grateful for this opportunity to visit and hopefully in the near future we will be discussing potential co-operational projects and exercises between our countries.”

The Commodore and the delegation arrive onboard the SAS QUEEN MODJADJI I

The delegation later visited 2 Military Hospital.