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…to ensure availability of medical services within every 30km along the highway corridor
Ahead of the of the planned Temporary Closure of the Abuja International Airport,the federal government had on Wednesday explained it’s Consolidated Emergency Medical Service,(EMS) plans for the Abuja-Kaduna highway corridor.
Osagie Ehanire,the Minister of state for Health had during media interaction on Wednesday said the Federal government has already worked out designated response centres in collaboration with the government of Kaduna and Niger State respectively.
He said,”We have worked out modalities with Commissioners of Health of Kaduna and Niger Staste, to have six strategically located heath centres which has been identified and assessed as Primary Response Centres.
On the designated centres,the Minister said,”They are Anglican Mission Hospital Katari,General Hospital Katari,General Hospital Doka,FRSC Clinic Kakau,and Primary Health Centre Dutse;Rigasa Health Centre and St.Gerard’s Hospital Kaduna.All owned by Kaduna and Niger State government and Missions.
Also,the National Eye Centre in Kaduna has also been designated as a Primary Response Centre,while the Primary Response Centres have been contacted to be linked with Trauma Centres of four Referral Hospitals.
The four referral Hospitals,according to the Minister include:National Hospital and Abuja University Teaching Hospital (UATH) Gwagwalada,and in Kaduna,the 44 Army Referral Hospital and Nigeria Air Force(NAF) Base Medical Centre.
He noted further that the goal is to have medical services around the clock,about every 30km along the highway corridor.
Meanwhile,the Minister said the Partners and stakeholders in emergency response plan include:Federal Road Safety Corp,(FRSC)Nigeria Police Force;(NPF),National Emergency Management Agency;(NEMA);Federal Fire Service(FFS);National Blood Transfusion Service,(NBTS);Association of Medical Social Workers;Kaduna State Ministr of Health;Niger State Ministry of Health ;Federal Capital Territory Health Secretariat and Federal Ministry of Defence.
He noted that plans reached by partners include equipment upgrade and full staffing of health centres for 24-hours readiness,adding that the health Ministry had already made a fund request to the Federal Ministry of Finance to provide the Centres with these:Medication and commoditiesin addition to small generators and other needed infrastructure upgrade.
He informed further that functional ambulances would also be stationed at these centres by the Federal Road Safety Corps.
In addition to facility upgrade,the Minister informed of plans to erect eligible,reflective signboards,every 10km along the highway to display the following: The emergency call numbers,112 and 122,and the exact site of the sign board, so that victims can give their location to emergency responses.
