By Akinnodi Francis, Ondo
The Ondo State Government has reiterated its commitment and determination to reactivate the Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System.
This was disclosed during a special training programme for frontline workers in emergency medical services and ambulance operations, organised by the Centre for Health Professionals and Biomedical Education of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, in collaboration with the Ondo State Emergency Medical Services Agency (ODEMSA).
Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Adeniran Ayotunde Ikuomola, said the training was crucial for frontline personnel doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, and rescuers to prepare for the reactivation of the emergency system in the state.
“The training is for doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, and rescuers, to enable us prepare our personnel for the reactivation of the emergency system in Ondo State.
“We had emergency medical services in the state before, but the government under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is now working to enhance the services, strengthen the agency, and widen its scope of activities and response.
“Our goal is for the emergency medical services to be able to respond to any form of emergency in the state. To achieve this, the government is providing equipment, and the call centre has already been reactivated. Beyond these, there is a need to train personnel, so that whenever there is an emergency, they can respond professionally.”
He urged participants to take full advantage of the training to save lives during emergencies.
Coordinator of ODEMSA, Mr. Abraham Akomolafe, said the governor’s passion for saving lives motivated him to approve the reactivation of the emergency call centre in Ondo and the base centres across the state for effective service delivery.
“We are here to conduct special training for frontline personnel in emergency medical treatment and ambulance operations. The goal is to provide immediate medical services to those in need of emergency care.
“The programme is organised by the Federal Government and adopted by the Ondo State Government to reduce high incidences of emergencies. At the national level, it is called the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System, while in Ondo State, it is called the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System.
“The governor has invested heavily in this programme because of his passion for the lives of the people. Abandoned facilities have been reactivated for service delivery, and this training is one of the steps towards the official flag-off of the programme in the state.”
The ODEMSA boss noted that the government had also approved the purchase of additional ambulances to support emergency services across the state.
He explained that ODEMSA was established to respond to road crashes and accidents on highways, providing access to healthcare that stabilises and saves patients’ lives.
The agency operates on major highways such as Ondo–Ore, Ilesha–Akure, Akure–Owo, Owo–Akoko, and Ondo–Akure, with base stations in Oka-Akoko, Owo, Ilara-Mokin, Bolorunduro, and Ore, covering Akoko South-West, Owo, Ifedore, Ondo East, and Odigbo Local Government Areas.
In her welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIMED, Professor Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, described the training as a way of domesticating knowledge that people often travel abroad to acquire.
“We believe we can transform emergency response to accidents through cutting-edge training that will equip frontline workers locally with globally recognised best practices. We thank ODEMSA for their partnership and remain open to more collaborations,” she said.
Director of the Centre for Health Professionals and Biomedical Education, UNIMED, Dr. (Mrs.) Salewa Osho, said the university is committed to impacting lives through training.
“We are delighted to host this training, which is central to our mandate. As Nigeria’s first university of medical sciences, we lead while others follow.
“At UNIMED, we train people according to the American Heart Association standards. If someone has an emergency, the first responder plays a critical role in saving that life. We therefore appeal to the state government to make this training continuous for better knowledge. Non-governmental organisations and groups can also be trained,” she added.
Chairman of the State Emergency Medical Treatment Committee, Dr. Oyetunde Olarinoyo, stressed the need for effective collaboration.
“Emergencies are unexpected and dangerous, often life-threatening. Something must be done quickly to save the situation. Human beings are diverse, and the way we respond to emergencies makes the difference. The essence of this training is to get stakeholders on the same page to identify emergencies and know what to do when they occur,” he said.
Coordinator of the training, Dr. Francis Akinkunmi, said the goal was to equip frontline personnel with the knowledge and skills to respond adequately to all forms of emergencies, particularly basic life support, which is vital in emergency medical services.
The Hope reports that ODEMSA was established on March 24, 2010, by the administration of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko to provide emergency medical and trauma care, as well as road services along crash-prone highway corridors in the state, in a bid to save accident victims and reduce deaths caused by road accidents.