FG boosts emergency response with 79 new ambulances

By Doris Obinna

Federal Government has commissioned 79 locally assembled advanced ambulances for deployment to tertiary hospitals across the country, in a move aimed at reducing avoidable deaths and improving rapid medical response nationwide.

Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, said the intervention aimed at building a more responsive and efficient healthcare system: “The ambulances will significantly enhance the capacity of tertiary healthcare institutions to respond promptly and effectively to emergencies, thereby improving survival outcomes and reducing complications arising from delayed access to medical care.

“The initiative is targeted at strengthening emergency care systems, healthcare infrastructure and Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The ambulances were fully assembled in Nigeria, including the installation of emergency medical equipment, demonstrating the country’s growing competence in local manufacturing, healthcare technology and automobile engineering.”

The CMD explained that the vehicles are Advanced Life Support units fitted with modern medical devices and communication systems that would enable receiving hospitals prepare ahead of patients’ arrival, while their dual-fuel configuration using Premium Motor Spirit and Compressed Natural Gas supports the federal government’s sustainability and energy diversification agenda.

He urged state governments, local councils and private healthcare providers to leverage the demonstrated local production capacity to address future emergency transportation needs, stressing that the nationwide deployment of the ambulances would further strengthen emergency response systems and deepen ongoing reforms aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality in Nigeria.