Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode today handed over 46 new Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and transport ambulances to the Lagos State Ambulance Service and 26 State-owned General Hospitals as part of efforts aimed at widening the coverage of emergency medical services beyond the metropolis to the hinterlands within the State.

 

Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the State House in Alausa, the Governor noted that the idea of the free Ambulance Service was borne out of his administration’s desire to bring quality health service closer to the people particularly those in emergency situations or conditions.

 

Said he, “in my inaugural address, I pledged my total commitment to run a government that will leave no one behind; a government that will implement programmes that make life simpler, easier and happier for our people. Today we are launching the Free Ambulance Service as a demonstration of our commitment to that pledge. This is also in consonance with this administration’s mantra of running a government of “continuity with improvement”.

 

Ambode stated that his administration is commencing the Ambulance Service, firstly with 26 Transport Ambulances which will be stationed at the 26 General Hospitals within the State for easy access.

 

The Governor added that his administration has also restructured the State Emergency Ambulance Services and increased the fleet of Mobile Intensive Care Units by 20 bringing the total number of MICUs to 33 adding that the new Ambulance Service will operate round the clock at the community level to reduce the response time to distress calls.

 

“We have also constructed 14 new ambulance points and also renovated the 11 existing points with the new cubicles and bay models to bring the total ambulance points across the State to 25. The objective of this programme is to give community health back to our people through a Primary Health Care Service that works every hour of the day and every day of the week”, Ambode said.

 

He stated that general hospitals in the State will now have new mobile X-Ray machines to reduce the cost of patients doing X-Ray outside the hospitals adding that additional equipment are also on the way to boost ease of access to healthcare services.

 

“Other components of this programme which we have set in motion include; the upgrading of the infrastructure, facilities and services of the Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu, Alimosho and Gbagada General Hospitals as well as Lekki and AmuwoOdofin Maternal and Child Centres to international standard”, Ambode said.

 

He listed other component as also including; the development of a Lagos State Medical Park to deliver world–class medical services and promote medical tourism; establishment of an effective and efficient Health Insurance programme as provided for by the Lagos State Health Scheme Law; and approval for the recruitment of more Para-Medic staff and Special Medical Co-ordinators to ensure 24-7 service to the citizens.

 

 

The Governor also noted that medical directors of various State-owned hospitals have renewed their commitment to ensure that their services are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week to ensure a good linkage with the new ambulance services adding that drugs are to be made available more effectively at all General Hospitals than before.

 

Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. ‘Modele Osunkiyesi stated that the present administration with respect to human resources for health, has exhibited its desire to ensure industrial harmony within the sector by resolving long-standing grievances and convincingly demonstrating that disputes can be resolved and grievances addressed through peaceful and constructive dialogue. 

 

 

She noted that appropriate team dynamics to avert crises situations has been institutionalized expressing optimism that this show of goodwill by Government will be reciprocated by all the health Professional Associations moving forward.

 

Osunkiyesi noted the State Government is also poised to improve the State’s revenue and resources by creating an enabling environment as well as a level playing field locally and globally adding that the Health Team has been further empowered under the leadership of the present Governor.

 

The Permanent Secretary posited that critical issues impacting on the health of residents especially in the area of access to health care have been taken on and frontally addressed adding that these issues include access to pre-hospital emergency care at the community level, access to critical care for our soon-to-be and new mothers, timely access to safe blood and blood products and even access to qualitative care in terms of diagnostics, utilities and referrals, all of which are determinants of health outcomes.

 

“Today therefore witnesses the actualization of the outcome of the resolutions and interventions jointly agreed upon during a public health stakeholders meeting that was held at the behest of His Excellency at which deliberations focused around immediate challenges being faced by each stakeholder as well as direct observations of His Excellency garnered over a period of time beginning from his experiences on the campaign trail”, she said.

 

By Lagos State Ministry Of Health