TO enhance emergency response capabilities for aviation-related incidents throughout The Bahamas, Response Plus Medical (RPM), the Middle East’s leading provider of pre-hospital care and emergency medical services, has been awarded a landmark contract by the Bahamas Aviation, Climate and Severe Weather Network Ltd (BACSWN).

The agreement is seen as an important step in reinforcing the economic, cultural and diplomatic relations between The Bahamas and the United Arab Emirates, where RPM is headquartered. It comes on the heels of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ opening of The Bahamas’ embassy in the UAE in February.

Subject to approval from the Minister of Health and Public Hospitals Authority, the agreement will offer the vital prerequisites the government needs to transform any pre-hospital emergency care, crash, search and rescue capabilities and dedicated trauma services in The Bahamas to a level that meets the mandatory requirements of Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Goals include the provision of aviation-grade ambulances, fire engines, search and rescue helicopters, air ambulances, paramedics and the ancillary benefits of the hiring and training of Bahamians to fill a myriad of careers in meteorology, law, IT and media visualisations.

The plan is to develop certified training in pre-hospital care, fire and safety, crash, and search-and-rescue operations; set up emergency medical service (EMS) infrastructure; and train local EMS professionals.

The deal will assist the Bahamas Ministry of Health and Public Hospitals Authority’s binding obligation to safely cover every aviation-related incident for all commercial, private and cargo flights throughout the Family Islands.

All aspects of the agreement were discussed during a series of meetings held in Nassau between Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and Minister of Energy & Transport, JoBeth Coleby-Davis, senior executives of BACSWN including President and CEO Patrick Rollins, and a high-level delegation from the UAE led by Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, the Founder-Chairman of Burjeel Holdings, the UAE’s leafing private healthcare group, alongside Dr Rohil Raghavan, CEO of RPM.

Dr Raghavan said: “This is a significant milestone for RPM. For the first time, we’re taking on the emergency response operations of an entire country. With our expertise in medical training and consultancy, we aim to elevate The Bahamas’ emergency preparedness and align with our global expansion goals.”

Robert Dupuch-Carron added: “BACSWN’s mission has always been to improve emergency and weather systems in The Bahamas. Partnering with RPM is a major step in building a world-class response ecosystem that also supports our tourism industry and national safety goals.”