Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has presented 16 vehicles for use in primary healthcare facilities across the state as ambulances, effectively strengthening the health emergency response system at the grassroots.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, he said that the ambulances were purchased by the local government authorities, each to be stationed in the various primary health care centres.

Presenting the ambulances on behalf of the local council on Monday evening, the governor said it is part of the efforts to fortify the healthcare system in the rural communities.

“This is the initiative of the local government areas. It is their money. It is basically to support the health services, especially the primary healthcare centres,” he said at a brief ceremony that was attended by the Chief of Staff Alhaji Abdulkadir Mahe; Commissioner for Health Dr Aminat Ahmed el-Imam; Counsellor and Adviser to the Governor Alhaji Saadu Salau; Chairman for Association of Local Government of Nigeria, (ALGON) Kwara State branch, Hon Jide Ashonibare; and TIC Chairman for Baruten Local Government Hon. Abdulrasheed Lafia; among others.

“For now, this is placing one ambulance per local government to move patients from basic healthcare centres to secondary or tertiary health facilities in a way to fortify the healthcare system. Of course, there are a few others with ambulances that our administration had donated to them in the past”.

Ashonibare, for his part, described the intervention as laudable and one that will improve the healthcare services across the 16 local government areas.

“Just like the Executive Governor of the state has said, in most of our health clinics in all the local governments there aren’t vehicles that can be used in case of wanting to carry patients during an emergency to where proper medical treatment can be given to them. But with this now, the challenge is over, and it can get better. It is a laudable programme that will help all the LGs, especially our people in the remote areas”, Ashonibare said.

“A situation whereby it will be difficult carrying patients from one place to another will no longer be there. We appreciate the Governor for his leadership and good example.”

Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed el-Imam, said the development aligns with the objective of the administration to bring quality healthcare services to the doorsteps of all Kwarans, irrespective of their financial status.

“The objective of the state government is to achieve universal health coverage for people of the state, regardless of their position on the socio-economic ladder. The presence of one functional standard ambulance in every local government of Kwara state is no mean feat, while more will definitely be done to strengthen healthcare delivery”, she said.

“We can rest assured now that the people in the hardest reached areas which are typically the least fortunate among us now have almost the same access as people living in the capital city as long as we know that there are ambulances that can transfer them immediately if there are medical emergencies.

“Why this is particularly dear to my heart is because His Excellency the Governor of Kwara State has undertaken and is still undertaking a massive statewide renovation of facilities. We are working assiduously to improve the quantity and quality of manpower in our facilities, and this (by the local governments) is just again to complement the existing structure that he had put in place and the ongoing activities that we have in the health sector”.