The Federal Government has delivered 13 ambulances to selected health facilities in Ogun State to strengthen emergency medical response and improve access to timely care.
The ambulances were presented on Friday by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, under the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS).
The allocation comprises three Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances, one Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance and nine tricycle ambulances.
Salako said the vehicles would improve emergency response across the state, particularly in remote and underserved communities.
He said the intervention was part of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerians could access timely and life-saving emergency care regardless of their location or financial status.
“Every day, precious lives are lost not because illnesses or injuries are beyond treatment, but because emergency care is delayed, fragmented, inaccessible, or entirely unavailable,” Salako said.
The Minister said the Federal Government had acquired 145 tricycle ambulances, six boats, 15 BLS ambulances and 79 ALS ambulances for the first phase of the national intervention.
He said the assets were being distributed across the country to strengthen emergency medical services and improve first responder care.
According to Salako, NEMSAS has supported more than 48,000 women to receive free emergency obstetric care and more than 4,000 women to undergo free caesarean sections in NHIA-empanelled facilities.
He said the intervention had contributed to a 17 per cent reduction in maternal deaths and a 12 per cent reduction in newborn deaths across 172 high-burden local government areas.
Salako said the government was moving beyond the provision of ambulances to establish a coordinated emergency-care system that connects transportation, trained personnel, communication systems, referral pathways and hospitals.
He urged the Ogun State Government and beneficiary facilities to ensure proper maintenance and responsible use of the ambulances.
The Minister warned that the vehicles must be used strictly for emergency medical services and not for other purposes.
“Let me emphasise that these ambulances are not hearses for moving corpses or going to the market to purchase goods, including drugs and other hospital consumables,” he said.
Salako said the success of the intervention would not be measured by the number of ambulances handed over but by their ability to respond quickly when lives are at risk.
He called for stronger collaboration among federal and state governments, health facilities, emergency responders, security agencies and communities.
FG to act on complaints at FMC Abeokuta
The Minister also disclosed that his office had received several complaints and media reports alleging unprofessional conduct, dereliction of duty and illegal collection of levies by some officials of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta.
Salako said the allegations would receive the government’s “comprehensive attention”.
He warned that anyone found culpable would be sanctioned in accordance with the civil service rules.
“Anybody found culpable will be sanctioned in accordance with the civil service rule,” he said.
The minister urged health workers to uphold professionalism and treat patients with dignity, stressing that patients deserved quality medical care, clear communication and respectful treatment.
He commended health workers who continue to perform their duties diligently and maintain high ethical standards.
Salako also said the Federal Government would work with the legislature to address the fragmented framework governing first responders and emergency management in the country.
He said the goal was to build an emergency medical system that is accessible, coordinated, equitable, resilient and sustainable, capable of saving lives when every second counts.
Source – Radio Nigeria
(vitalnewsngr.com)
