The University of Medical Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Ondo has urged stakeholders in the health sector to work toward well-coordinated, effective, and efficient emergency medical service delivery in the state saying that is the only way to safe lives during emergency.
The appealed was made during the stakeholders’ Colloquium organised by management of UNIMEDTH on Emergency Medical Service delivery in Ondo State.
The event was held at the NMA House in Akure.
An Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is a comprehensive system which provides the arrangements of personnel, facilities and equipment for the effective, coordinated and timely delivery of health and safety services to victims of sudden illness or injury.
The Colloquium have Health workers, Hospital Management Board, Ministry of Health, Royal Fathers, Nigerian Police Force, FRSC, NSCDC, NURTW among others stakeholders in attendance.
Speaking, Dr. Micheal Gbala, Chairman Medical Advisory Committee ( CMAC) who Represented the CMD, Dr. Oluwole ige welcome all participants to the programme saying that the need to improve medical emergency services can not be over emphasised.
He said the process of taking care of victims of emergency cases needs to improve and stakeholders from the scene of accidents, rescue teams must step up their services and effective collaboration is essential to improve it.
His words: “Critical ideas and stakeholder engagement is essential to raise awareness, educate the general public and policies be put in places to making sure emergency victims and cases were properly taking care”.
While giving out some emergency Zonal numbers to the participants and people of the state, he charged members of the public not to hesitate to call any of the number during emergency situations, assuring them of rapid response.
In her goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Pharm Folukemi Aladenola said the meeting/ colloquium organized by UNIMED Teaching Hospital is very significant because it would lay foundation of ideas and strategies for the Ministry of health from to purse formulation of policies that would be mutually beneficial to all cases and parties.
“Medical emergency is unplanned situations where acute injury or illness that poses an immediate risk to persons life or long term health and it requires prioritising an integrated approach to early recognition and resuscitation reduces the impact of all of these conditions”.
“The integrated approach requires skills workers, funds and information to rescue the situation. Most health workers spent their time and life around the hospital and the skills to arrest unforeseen circumstances are conferred on health workers”.
“Looking at the social crime rate of rape and kidnapped within, this social unrest activities place high demands on our hospital emergency services, skills and competence with adequate responses to save lifes. The need to have adequate personnel, operational logistics and financial resources is key”.
“Nigerians laws that guides treatment of victims of gunshots made provision subsist and National health Act of 2017 expanded the beneficiary to all forms of emergency and no hospital is permitted to violate it”.
The challenge of who offset the medical bills of victims of medical emergencies is critical due to paucity of funds within the hospital and the need for hospital managers to develop a corporate social responsibility funds to arrest such needs is very important
Health insurance schemes is another gateway to provide medical services to any victims of emergency both medical and traumatic cases.
The Director General of the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission, Dr Abiodun Oyeneyin said the agency is always alive to the plight of emergency patients saying as agency that coordinates, supervises and regulates all Health Insurances in Ondo State will continue to collaborate with all relevant health sector in Ondo State.
Dr Adiji of the Hospital Management Board said Ondo State Government is doing everything possible in ensuring the safety of lives of its Citizens.
The State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association charged the government of Ondo to motivate health workers in the state saying Japa Syndrome is rampant in the state due to poor welfare service to the health workers in Ondo State.
The Representative of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in separate reactions noted that security and para military agencies are playing major roles during accident on the highway.
The Police further urged the Medical Institution and its personnel to endeavors to safe life first in a situation where Police Report is require saying safety of lives are very paramount to them.
While on it part, the Federal Road Safety Corps advised drivers of vehicle both private and public to always go for regular Eyes Check up to know their state of eyes saying strict adherence to driving rules would prevent incessant road accident.
While speaking, the Representative of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) thanked the Management of UNIMEDTH for the thought provoking Colloquium, saying the Union on its part were by doing sensitization and public enlightenment to their members while tasking government to Institute Free Eye Check for drivers among others.
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