University to Deliver “Life-Saving” Education for Military Personnel

Potentially life-saving education for military personnel about insects, parasites and their role in diseases will soon be taking place at University of Lincoln, UK, after it was awarded a three-year contract by the Defence Medical Academy (DMA) to provide their entomology training.

The DMA provides medical training within the Armed Forces, specifically to the Defence Medical Services (DMS) and their team of Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs). Entomology and Parasitology training is mandatory for all military EHPs.

University of Lincoln’s existing strong links with the Armed Forces for the provision of training, and a high level of expertise in this area, has led to the DMA awarding contract to deliver comprehensive entomology and vector management training to its practitioners, meeting the requirements of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).

Students will be taught about the identification of insects, arachnids, mites and parasites, with a focus on mosquitos and their lifecycles. Students will be able to recognise the behaviours that transmit malaria and the suitable breeding sites for mosquitos, with reference to diseases such as Dengue, Yellow Fever and Japanese Encephalitis.

The first students will begin training in March 2022 at the University’s Brayford Campus, with more students joining the course over the next three years.

Julian Free, Deputy Vice Chancellor, People Services and Operations said: “This exciting contract builds on Lincoln’s existing reputation for delivering high quality education and training to the UK Armed Forces in areas such as leadership, logistics and engineering.

“The University collaborates with the Armed Forces to ensure its teaching and academic curriculum meets military context requirements.”

ENDS