Director urges Abians to use state’s free emergency medical services

The Medical Director of Abia State Emergency Medical Service (EMS), Chukwuemeka Nwakanma, has urged the public to avail themselves of the life-saving EMS by calling designated telephones lines in times of health emergencies.

Explaining the scope of EMS to The Guardian, Nwakanma said the EMS, which was formally commissioned by Okezie Ikpeazu on January 26, last year to attend and treat victims during health emergencies free of charge, has brought emergency services, such as ambulance and paramedical services, closer to the residents of the state at no cost.

The service, he stated, would reduce deaths from disasters, accidents and other emergencies occurring not only on the roads, thereby saving lives, noting that EMS has fully equipped life support ambulances provided by the governor to discharge its services.

On the EMS modus operandi, Nwakanma explained that when patients/persons needing emergency medical attention call the designated line- 081 335 6900- or the nationally designated line- 112- when activated, an ambulance closest would be deployed, adding that with time, trackers would be placed on all ambulances that would give their location real time.

He disclosed that the first phase of the training has been completed and involved 30 healthcare providers from each of the 17 councils, appealing to road users, commuters and security agencies to always give ambulances right-of-way to reduce rescue time.