The Federal Government has officially kicked off the nationwide distribution of Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances and specialized tricycle ambulances in a major effort to bolster emergency medical services and bridge critical healthcare gaps in rural and underserved communities.
Speaking on Monday at the flag-off ceremony held at the National Trauma Centre in Riyom, Plateau State, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, highlighted that the initiative targets last-mile transportation bottlenecks in remote areas where treatment delays often prove fatal.
“Minutes matter in emergency care,” Kachollom stated. “The difference between timely transportation and delay can quite literally be the difference between life and death.”
The deployment is structured under the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) framework to coordinate rapid responses across Nigeria. The new fleet is specifically equipped to address
Maternal and newborn emergencies,Childhood illnesses and acute health crises,Road traffic accidents and severe trauma cases
Kachollom emphasized that the true success of the project will not be judged by the volume of vehicles distributed, but by the number of lives saved and preventable disabilities averted.
To further expand specialized medical access, Kachollom announced that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, approved the transition of Riyom General Hospital into an outpost facility of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), in active collaboration with the Plateau State Government.
Representing Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for what she described as a strategic investment in the health sector.
Piyo noted that the tricycle ambulances are uniquely suited for communities with challenging terrain and poor road infrastructure, assuring the Federal Government that the state will maintain strict oversight regarding vehicle maintenance, staffing, and operational deployment.
Validating the impact of emergency medical transportation, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of JUTH presented significant operational data from pilot coverage areas:
Jos East LGA: 1,115 emergency patients transported; only one maternal death recorded in the last six months.
Riyom LGA: Over 900 emergency patients transported; zero maternal deaths recorded over the same period.
Statewide Progress: Plateau State’s maternal mortality rate has dropped dramatically from approximately 905 deaths per 100,000 live births down to nearly 500, with public health officials targeting a further reduction to 100.
Welcoming the additional allocation of 10 new tricycle ambulances to Plateau State, the Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area, Bature Sati Shuwa, lauded both federal and state authorities, noting that the new JUTH outpost will draw patients from neighboring communities and significantly improve regional healthcare access.
