The Commissioner, Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation And Resettlement, The Commissioner for health, Mrs. Juliana Bitrus represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Muhammed Aminu Ghuluze, Executive Chairmen and secretaries of Gwoza, Magumeri, Konduga and Mafa, amongst other dignitaries during an event in Maiduguri.
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The International Rescue Committee has presented four new equipped ambulances to improve the transporting of patient on referral from one health faculties to another within 4 selected LGAs as well to cater the need Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Delivering his remark at the occasion which took place at Conference Hall, Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation Resettlement, the country Director International Rescue Committee, Babatunde Orjei, said that the ambulances will provide sustainable health services for the beneficiaries.
He said the donation of four Ambulances is part of the European Union’s support to Response, Recovery and Resilience in Borno state grant, which is a major component of the EU Borno package and implemented by IRC in four Local Government Areas of Mafa, Magumeri, Gwoza and Konduga respectively.
He further explained that a key component of this grant is the strengthening of the referral system from primary health facilities to secondary and tertiary health facilities for the care of critically medical cases and obstetric emergencies.
In order to achieve this, he noted that an efficient referral system must have a functional ambulance to convey the sick to the nearest hospital for better care.
On the maintenance and repairing of the properties, the country director revealed that part of efforts to support this, during the project implementation, two old non-functional ambulances in Magumeri LGA and Konduga LGA were repaired and stationed for referral purposes through our various grants.
“Hon Commissioner Sir, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I would like to say that From Jan 2021 till Aug 2021 , IRC has supported the referral of a total of 331 ( 252F, 79 M) critically ill patients and obstetric emergencies from various LGA to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital via the IRC ambulances and also paid the cost of treatment”.
“Non availability of ambulance for referral of critical patient was a major critical gap identified by the Primary Health Clinicians in charge, the LGA health directors and the SPHCDA and was key among the requests made to IRC to consider in the sustainability plan for this grant. As this grant is ending this month, the procurement of the 4 ambulances for the 4 supported LGAs is part of the sustainability plan put in place to strengthen the referral system in the state and to help save the lives of critically ill patients”.
As part of our support, IRC will train the drivers assigned to drive the ambulance and we are excited that as part of the MoU signed with the Ministry of Health, has assured us of the maintenance of the ambulances so that they can provide the relevant services to our esteemed citizens.
“I would like to said that though the IRC and support of the European Union, we could only procure 4 ambulances for the 4 LGA supported by the EU grant. There is still the need for government to provide and station ambulances in other LGA outside the state capital to support a robust efficient referral system”.
“I would also like to appeal to the Borno State Government to consider as part of the State’s laudable 25 year development plan, the provision of a health insurance scheme that covers low income brackets, especially IDPs, and host community members who are unable to afford cost of clinical care, ‘a healthy community is a prospering community’ Finally, I would like to say thank you to the European Union for the support that made this a reality, the Tripler Ministry, the Ministry of Health, the Borno State Agency for Coordination of Sustainable Development and humanitarian Response, and all the LGA authorities of Mafa, Magumeri, Konduga and Gwoza for their cooperation and support , we do not take it for granted. Thank you to everyone that has come to be part of this event, and God bless!