Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
September 2, 2015 – Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday improved on healthcare facilities in the state by injecting additional 46 ambulances to existing pool as part of effort to improve on healthcare delivery system in the state.
Speaking at the event, Ambode said that the state government has created 14 new ambulance points bringing existing ambulance points to 25 as part of effort to increase access to the grassroots and to enable them take possession of services they render in the various localities.
He called on residents of the state to make use of the ambulances adding that they are available 24/7 if residents call 112 whenever there is an emergency.
He announced that government has plans to provide x-ray machines to all primary healthcare centres (PHC) as part of efforts to upgrade them to international standard and that drugs will now be made readily available in all the PHCs for residents.
He said that government will soon employ paramedics as part of efforts to beef-up the state’s preparedness to tackle healthcare issues 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Omodele Osunkeyesi that attributed the launch of the items to activities that took place just 41 days ago when the state government organised a stakeholders summit at the behest of the governor to address challenges facing healthcare delivery system in the state.
She attributed prompt delivery of the items as a testimony of leadership style per excellence adding that the governor has taken proactive steps to address issues affecting the sector to guarantee peace and industrial harmony. She called on health care professionals to reciprocate government gesture.
In his remarks, General Manager, Lagos State Ambulance Services,(LASAMBUS), Dr. Ibrahim Mustapha said that the launch of the items were part of efforts to reduce maternal mortality.
He said that in the past, there was no capacity to tackle emergencies in the state until 2001 when then governor of the state, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated ambulance services as part of effort to tackle healthcare needs of the state.
He said the ambulances will improve response time in time of emergencies and that it will make it possible for communities to feel the impact of governance at the grassroots.
