Dr. Tomi Coker
Dr. Tomi Coker, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, has described the introduction of 24-hour ambulance and emergency services across all communities and rural areas in the state to address every unforeseen health circumstance in the State within the space of three years as laudable.
Speaking in his office in Abeokuta recently, Dr. Coker said when Prince Dapo Abiodun assumed office on May 29, 2019, Ogun State could only boast of five basic life-support ambulances, which she said has been increased to 26 to cover the nine federal constituencies in the Gateway State.
Coker said that the 24-hour uninterrupted ambulance services now extend to various communities and rural areas with over 16 ambulance points in strategic locations across the three senatorial districts.
She pointed out that the introduction of tricycle ambulances in the hinterlands has also been helpful in addressing infant and maternal mortality, which in the past was occasioned by a lack of transportation to health facilities.
She noted that 70 percent of Ogun residents who reside in rural areas could be easily transported now to any nearby primary healthcare center in case of emergency.
The health commissioner said “We have been able to provide community ambulance services which means people can call us for emergency response.
“In order to reduce the number of fatalities, we have reduced the response time from two hours to between 10 minutes and 30 minutes.
“We are happy that the trust of Ogun residents in our government keeps increasing considering the 220 total emergency calls we received in 2018 and the 520 calls received in 2021”, the Commissioner said.
Coker added that the formal launch of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund in February 2022 gave a window of opportunity to access five percent of the fund to give free emergency care to victims for the first 48 hours.
Also speaking, the Director, Ambulance and Emergency Services, Dr. Hassan Adelakun, said the department has national emergency toll-free lines 112 and 08112000033 which are available for 24-hour to activate the nearest ambulance point.
Adelakun said the department provides free follow-up service, which transfers patients to any higher level of care, noting that patients are also moved from homes, offices, and communities to the nearest health facility.
