Kaduna: The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has emphasized the importance of combining professional competence with love, compassion, and commitment in healthcare delivery. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of Basic Medical Course 4/2026 at the Nigerian Air Force School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine, Aneke highlighted the critical role of medical personnel in preserving lives through service, care, and compassion.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Aneke, represented by AVM Adeniran Ademuwagun, Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), stressed that healthcare extends beyond professional training. He noted that caregivers are often the first and, at times, the last point of contact for patients, underscoring their vital role in the healthcare system. Aneke recalled the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Nigeria, where numerous nurses and caregivers sacrificed their lives while caring for patients, although doctors largely received recognition for their roles.
The CAS pointed out the growing convergence of roles among doctors, nurses, caregivers, and other medical professionals, emphasizing the necessity of continuous training and competence. He remarked that first responders could sometimes make the difference between life and death. Aneke asserted that caregiving is a profession that cannot easily be replaced by technology or artificial intelligence, as human beings will always need others for nurturing and care.
He urged the graduates to prioritize empathy alongside their professional training, stating, “It is not enough to provide the right medical response; you must also care for the person you are attending to.” Aneke encouraged the graduates to continue improving themselves professionally, physically, and mentally, and to consider building their careers in Nigeria despite the challenges, as opportunities exist.
The CAS also advised perseverance in the face of difficulties, reminding the graduates that compassion, commitment, and love for the profession are as crucial as academic and professional knowledge.
Earlier in the ceremony, AVM Anthony Ekpe, Commandant of the Nigerian Air Force School of Medical Sciences and Aviation Medicine, described the graduation as the 14th edition and a significant transition in the graduates’ careers. Ekpe highlighted that the graduates were trained in basic medical knowledge, skills, and principles, as well as basic life support, to adequately respond to emergencies before further medical care arrives.
He urged the graduates to uphold values such as compassion, integrity, humility, competence, and continuous learning, stressing that medical personnel must treat every patient with dignity, regardless of rank or status. “Medicine devoid of compassion can become cold, while compassion without competence can become very dangerous. You need both,” Ekpe stated, commending the instructors and staff for their dedication to producing disciplined and skilled medical personnel for the Nigerian Air Force healthcare system.