Daud Olatunji
…Releases Emergency line : 08112000033
The Ogun State Government has said it has positioned at least one ambulance in each of the state’s 20 local government areas as part of efforts to ensure emergency victims receive medical attention within 15 to 20 minutes.
The Acting Director of Ogun State Ambulance and Emergency Services, Dr. Festus Adetonwa, disclosed this during an interview with PLATFORMTIMES on Tuesday, saying the government was strengthening emergency medical response across both urban and rural communities.
Adetonwa said the state’s ambulance service was designed to provide prompt pre-hospital emergency care to victims of road crashes, medical emergencies, workplace incidents, market accidents and other life-threatening situations before they are taken to hospital.
According to him, the service operates a 24-hour emergency call centre in Abeokuta, where trained dispatch officers receive distress calls and immediately deploy the nearest available ambulance.
He urged residents to save the emergency hotline, 081-1200-0033, on their mobile phones, stressing that timely reporting could save lives.
“Our slogan is ‘Know the Number, Save a Life.’ Every household should have this number because emergencies are unpredictable and can happen anywhere,” he said.
Adetonwa explained that callers would be required to provide accurate information, including their name, telephone number, exact location and nearby landmarks, to enable dispatchers identify the closest ambulance and ensure rapid response.
He noted that prompt and accurate information from callers remained critical to achieving the state’s response target.
“The landmark is very important because it helps us determine the nearest ambulance to dispatch instead of sending one from a farther location,” he said.
The ambulance chief acknowledged that the emergency line was not yet toll-free, explaining that the state had previously relied on the national emergency number, 112, but that the service had experienced technical challenges nationwide.
He expressed optimism that the Federal Government and the Nigerian Communications Commission would resolve the issues surrounding the toll-free emergency number.
While urging residents not to hesitate to make emergency calls despite the small call charges, he said the cost was insignificant compared to saving lives.
Adetonwa disclosed that Ogun currently has a minimum of 20 ambulances strategically deployed across the state, with some local government areas operating more than one ambulance because of their size and population.
He added that tricycle ambulances had also been introduced in some rural communities to improve access to emergency healthcare where conventional ambulances might face challenges.
According to him, ambulances are equipped with trained paramedics, nurses and emergency medical equipment to provide pre-hospital care rather than merely transporting patients.
“An ambulance is not just a vehicle that carries patients. It provides life-saving interventions before victims get to the hospital,” he said.
The acting director said the emergency service attends to everyone without discrimination, including residents, visitors and travellers within Ogun State.
He revealed that the state was also working towards integrating qualified private hospitals and privately-owned ambulances into its emergency response system through a public-private partnership.
According to him, the government has commenced a fresh assessment of private medical facilities to identify those capable of meeting emergency response standards.
He explained that the arrangement would allow the government to deploy the nearest available private ambulance whenever government ambulances were already engaged elsewhere.
“There is no government anywhere in the world that can provide emergency services alone. Public-private partnership is the way forward, provided quality standards are maintained,” he said.
On personnel development, Adetonwa said ambulance officers undergo regular training, including practical sessions and continuous capacity-building programmes conducted by emergency medicine specialists.
He dismissed suggestions that the ambulance service had become inactive, assuring residents that the government remained committed to strengthening emergency medical services across the state.
He reaffirmed that Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration was investing in improving emergency healthcare delivery and urged residents to make use of the service whenever emergencies arise.
“The vision is to ensure that the people are well served. We will continue to improve our services. Our message remains: Know the Number, Save a Life,” he said.
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