The Ogun State Government has commissioned an ambulance boat donated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to enhance emergency response and improve access to healthcare services in riverine and hard-to-reach communities across the state.
Speaking at the commissioning in Makun-Omi, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said the intervention aligns with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and ensure residents in remote areas are not excluded from timely medical care.
Coker noted that difficult terrain and water transportation challenges have long hindered access to healthcare in riverine communities, adding that the ambulance boat would provide swift response during medical emergencies and help reduce avoidable deaths.
She said the project forms part of the administration’s broader healthcare reforms aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes, strengthening emergency response systems and enhancing service delivery at the grassroots.
Describing the initiative as a strategic investment, the commissioner said it would deepen the impact of the state’s primary healthcare initiatives and improve the referral system for patients in isolated communities.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Ogun Waterside Local Government, Hon. Adetoye Odunoiki, represented by Hon. Olabode Ogunlana, commended the state government for what he described as a timely and impactful intervention for residents.
He said the commissioning of the ambulance boat marked an important milestone for the local government and underscored the collective commitment of the government and development partners towards saving lives and improving the well-being of the people.
According to him, the donation will significantly improve the transportation of pregnant women and other residents across riverine and coastal communities, ensuring access to timely and quality healthcare services, while reducing delays in emergency response.
Speaking on behalf of the development partners, UNICEF’s Vaccine Supply and Logistics Consultant, Mrs Florence Moloku, lauded the state government for its progress in creating a healthier environment.
She assured that UNICEF would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes for mothers and children and urged the local government and communities to properly maintain the ambulance boat, noting its importance for immunisation services and outreach programmes.
Also speaking on behalf of the host communities, the Chairman of Chairmen of Ward Development Councils, Hon. Mrs Aderonke Adekunmisi, expressed appreciation to the state government, saying the ambulance boat would significantly improve emergency response and healthcare access in the area.
She urged community members to support the effective use and maintenance of the facility, noting that pregnant women, children and the elderly stand to benefit the most from the intervention.