Exhibition marks SPDF’s 40th anniversary |21 November 2017
Some of the stands in the exhibition
Students and military officers are able to view an exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF).
The various units who are showcased in the exhibition includes the Seychelles Air Force (SAF), Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG), Special Forces and Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA).
The exhibition taking place at the Seychelles Coast Guard base and SDA on Ile Perseverance showcases the history, past leaders, equipment and weapons used by these various units, among others.
It will also be held today.
The military officers also received various screening and health talks through a drive done in collaboration with the health ministry.
The drive also included blood donation, talks on sexual reproduction, dental aspect, nutrition, mental health, the AIDS programme, among many others.
Lieutenant Colonel Francois Antat said the activities kicked off on Sunday with a special mass.
“There has been an outstanding relationship between SPDF and the health ministry so now they have offered to provide us with the support through those medical tests. The exhibition is also an opportunity for the military personnel and people outside of the military to learn about the progress of the various units of the SPDF,” he said.
Major Jude Raoul who took the opportunity to check his BMI (body mass index), blood pressure, sugar level, muscle fat ratio, said it is important for soldiers to keep in shape and healthy so this is a wakeup call to many of them.
“We are very grateful to have received all these services all at once because being in the military does not allow us many chances to do regular checkups on our own as although we have our own clinic it requires many procedures so it’s rare for a soldier to request for a simple test,” he said.
Corporal Pema Cherry said it is very important for women in the military to do these screening at least every three months.
“I am very pleased to be able to do all these tests in one go and for us as women in the military we have to be sure of our health status,” she said.
This year also marks 36 years of the mercenary invasion of Seychelles on November 25, 1981.