The Ebonyi State Ministry of Health has commenced statewide Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System towards averting preventable deaths, maternal and under five mortality in the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, alongside the state coordinator of EBSEMSAS, Dr. Precious Eugene-Abah disclosed this at the Ministry of Health complex during the official flag off of the Ebonyi SEMSAS program. During the event, 15 well equipped ambulances commissioned for the program.
Addressing the people, the commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, who commended the state governor, His Excellency Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, and Her Excellency, Chief Mrs Mary-Maudeline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, as well as the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, for their special interest and interventions in the health sector, especially the plight of the less privileged patients, said the ministry would continue doing the needful to enhance the health indices of the state.
Dr. Ekuma appreciated the state Governor for employing qualified medical personnel, procuring basic medical equipments and drugs for the state health facilities, as well as enrolling the state civil servants and less privileged into the stae health insurance scheme
. He expressed optimism that with these emergency transport systems, so many preventable deaths would be halted and announced the plan of the government to officially commission Oxygen Producing plants sited in the state.
Earlier, the state coordinator of State Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System, Dr. Precious Eugene-Abah said the program entails that people should call 112 Emergency number and an ambulance would be mobilized to convey the patient to the nearest accredited medical facility for 48 hours free treatment .
She said that the commencement of these services will stop the second and third levels of delay in patient management, which causes preventable deaths and pledged her commitment to ensure the success of the program.
It is also worthy to note that oxygen cylinders, monitors, and pulse oximeters were distributed to GHs and PHCs across the state.
In their goodwill messages, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Lawrence Ezeogo, the Executive Secretary, State Primary Health care Development Agency, Dr. Emeka Ovuoba and Director PublicHealth, Dr. Hyacinth Ebenyi urged the concerned medical practitioners to utilize the provision of basic medical equipment to take good care of their patients and reveal plans to further train them on how best to use the equipment.
On behalf of the medical doctors, Dr. Chidi Ehiem and representative of Officers in charge of primary health centers thanked the state Governor and the commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma for providing them with Ambulances and Oxygen Cylinders to help in speedy treatment of their patients and promised to make good use of them in the overall interest of the state.
