…Takes Riyom General Hospital as JUTH Outpost
The Federal Government has commenced the nationwide distribution of Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances and tricycle ambulances as part of efforts to strengthen emergency medical response and improve access to timely healthcare in rural and underserved communities.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S., mni, disclosed this on Monday at the flag-off ceremony held at the National Trauma Centre, Riyom, Plateau State.
Kachollom said the intervention was designed to address emergency transportation and last-mile challenges, particularly in hard-to-reach communities where delays in accessing healthcare could determine whether a patient survives.
She said the initiative was anchored on the principle that “distance should not determine whether a life is saved,” especially in cases involving maternal and newborn emergencies, childhood illnesses, road crashes and other trauma-related conditions.
“Minutes matter in emergency care. The difference between timely transportation and delay can quite literally be the difference between life and death,” the Permanent Secretary said.
She explained that the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System provides the framework for coordinating emergency medical services across the country.
According to her, Plateau State already has a number of emergency-care interventions, including the State Ambulance System, the Jos University Teaching Hospital emergency-care pathway and the Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transport initiative, which has been strengthened through the SAVEMAMA Digital RESMAT platform.
Kachollom also announced that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, had approved Riyom General Hospital as an outpost of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, following the cooperation of the Plateau State Government.
She commended the state government for its partnership and commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.
The Permanent Secretary said the ambulance intervention was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the health sector, assuring that the ministry would ensure proper deployment, maintenance, staffing, monitoring and accountability.
She urged Plateau State and other beneficiary states to take ownership of the assets and ensure that they were deployed to areas with the greatest need.
“The Federal Government has made its contribution, and we expect the State Government to complement this investment through appropriate budgetary commitments and contributory funding to strengthen and sustain emergency medical services across Plateau State,” she said.
Kachollom said the success of the programme would not be measured by the number of ambulances distributed but by the number of lives saved and preventable deaths and disabilities reduced.
Speaking at the ceremony, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, represented by his deputy, Josephine Piyo, commended President Tinubu for the intervention, describing the ambulances as a strategic investment in emergency healthcare.
The governor said the deployment of the vehicles was particularly important in addressing difficult terrains and accessibility challenges in underserved communities.
“The vehicles would improve timely transportation of patients, facilitate referrals between healthcare facilities and strengthen the emergency response chain, particularly when every second matters,” he said.
Mutfwang said the intervention aligned with the state’s healthcare priorities, noting that the state had earlier procured five tricycle ambulances for the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Innovative Initiative in Jos East Local Government Area.
He assured the Federal Government that the ambulances would be properly deployed, responsibly utilised and adequately maintained for their intended purpose.
The governor further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a coordinated healthcare system linking prevention, emergency response, transportation, referral, treatment and continuity of care.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of JUTH said the emergency transport initiative had recorded significant results in reducing delays in accessing healthcare services in Jos East and Riyom local government areas.
He disclosed that only one maternal mortality had been recorded in Jos East in the past six months, while Riyom had recorded none within the period.
According to him, about 1,115 patients had been transported in Jos East Local Government Area under the initiative, while more than 900 patients had been transported in Riyom.
The CMD said the intervention was significant because of its potential to drive down maternal mortality in Plateau State and Nigeria generally.
He said available statistics previously put Plateau State’s maternal mortality ratio at about 905 deaths per 100,000 live births but had dropped to approximately 500, expressing optimism that the figure could eventually be reduced to about 100.
He commended health workers, particularly those in tertiary institutions, for their efforts and appreciated the Federal Ministry of Health for providing an additional 10 new tricycle ambulances to Plateau State.
The Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area, Bature Sati Shuwa, also welcomed the establishment of the JUTH outpost in Riyom, describing it as a product of purposeful and patriotic leadership.
Shuwa said the facility would attract patients from surrounding communities and provide improved access to quality healthcare.
He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, Plateau State Government and other stakeholders responsible for the establishment of the JUTH outpost.