Minutes Mean Life or Death: FG Launches Nationwide Emergency Ambulance Drive
Dr. Nafisat Makinɗe
The Federal Government on Monday began the nationwide distribution of Advanced Life Support ambulances and tricycle ambulances to improve emergency medical response and access to healthcare in rural and underserved communities.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said in a statement issued Monday by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations, that the intervention would address delays in emergency transportation and last mile access, particularly during maternal and newborn emergencies, childhood illnesses, road crashes and other trauma cases.
Speaking at the flag off ceremony at the National Trauma Centre, Riyom, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said timely transportation was critical to emergency care. “Minutes matter in emergency care. The difference between timely transportation and delay can quite literally be the difference between life and death,” she said.
Kachollom also announced that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, had approved Riyom General Hospital as an outpost of Jos University Teaching Hospital, following the cooperation of the Plateau State Government. She said the ministry would monitor the deployment, maintenance, staffing and use of the emergency assets.
Plateau Gov. Caleb Mutfwang, represented by his deputy, Josephine Piyo, said the ambulances would improve patient transportation, referrals between health facilities and emergency response in communities facing difficult terrain and limited access.
The Chief Medical Director of JUTH said about 1,115 patients had been transported in Jos East Local Government Area and more than 900 in Riyom under the emergency transport initiative. He also said Jos East recorded one maternal death in the preceding six months while Riyom recorded none.
The JUTH chief medical director said Plateau’s maternal mortality rate had fallen from about 905 deaths per 100,000 live births to about 500, with a target of reducing it further to about 100. He also announced that the Federal Ministry of Health had provided 10 additional tricycles to Plateau State.