Dr. Peter Mutuku Mathuki the Secretary General for East African Community and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Alfred Mutua on Thursday officially signed the host agreement for the Centre for Aviation Medicine (CAM) for EAC’s Institution in Nairobi, Kenya.
The core function of the Centre is aeromedical safety oversight.
Mutua noted after signing that the Centre for Aviation Medicine is the only one of its kind in Africa and is among the three (3), such facilities in the World.
“The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) intends to use the facility to conduct training in the area of aviation medicine for Africa,” he said.
He added, the centre, “will enable Kenya to make significant contribution in enhancing aviation safety standards within the EAC Region and at the continental level.”
The Regional Centre for Aviation Medicine was borne of the need for civil aviation authorities of EAC Partner States to access an aviation medicine facility that complies with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Medical Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
EAC Partner States acknowledged the need for the Centre after taking part in ICAO’s Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) where a number of shortcomings in the implementation of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) were noted and a recommendation was consequently made for the formation of the Regional Aviation Medicine Centre of Excellence code-named the Centre for Aviation Medicine (CAM).
According to partner states, the CAM facility will evaluate and ensure conformity or compliance with ICAO Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and the EAC Regulatory Provision of the Partner States in the field of aviation medicine.
The regional centre will also carry a Skills audit and develop a databank of Designated Medical Examiners in the region and aviation medicine by arranging basic, advanced and refresher training programmes.
It will also establish a process for continous review and update of the medical aspects of CAA (Personnel Licensing) Regulations to keep abreast with ICAO SARPs changes.
Lastly, the facility will also develop an appeal system for dissatisfied license holders.
