Nigeria deploys 13 ambulances to Ogun State health facilities

The Nigerian Federal Government has deployed 13 ambulances to selected health facilities in Ogun State as part of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS). The deployment includes three Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances, one Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance, and nine tricycle ambulances. These assets are intended for use by federal and state tertiary institutions, as well as remote or high-volume secondary and primary healthcare facilities.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Kunle Salako, stated that the initiative aims to strengthen emergency medical services nationwide to prevent deaths caused by delayed or inaccessible care. This distribution is part of a larger national acquisition involving 145 tricycles, six boats, 15 BLS ambulances, and 79 ALS ambulances, along with communication tools like laptops and printers.

Salako also highlighted the success of NEMSAS in reducing maternal and newborn mortality. The program has supported over 48,000 women with free emergency obstetric care and provided more than 4,000 free caesarean sections, contributing to a 17 percent decrease in maternal deaths and a 12 percent decrease in newborn deaths across 172 high-burden local government areas.