Free emergency medical transportation services to Asaba residents as monarch donates ambulance

In a bid to strengthen healthcare in the Asaba Kingdom of Delta State, Epiphany Azinge, the Asagba of Asaba, has donated an ambulance to the proposed Asaba Community Free Ambulance Service.

The donation is towards his vision for the community, “I envision a situation where, in the event of an emergency, a call can be made, and within the shortest possible time, an ambulance has arrived”.

The donation is coming a few weeks after the unveiling of a free ambulance service initiative with an initial donation of N10 million, an Initiative aimed at improving emergency healthcare delivery in the community. Though the ambulances were yet to be purchased then, he had explained that the project was unveiled after months of planning that had been delayed by bureaucratic challenges.

He noted that the initiative was designed to serve the collective interest of residents and would be continuously reviewed and strengthened for the public good, even as he was confident that the project would be successful, as the community already had access to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. In addition, he saw the initiative creating employment opportunities for drivers and additional healthcare personnel.

Now, speaking at his palace, during the presentation of the ambulance Thursday, the monarch declared: “Asaba Kingdom is not prepared to joke with the healthcare of her subjects. We have kick-started with primary healthcare, supported tertiary hospitals, developed a rehabilitation centre, and this ambulance service is the next phase.”

His Royal Majesty reaffirmed his commitment to improving healthcare delivery and emergency response within the Kingdom.

The monarch said the donation marked the first in a planned fleet of ambulances that will provide free emergency medical transportation services to residents of the community, said the monarch.

Azinge, a renowned Nigerian legal luminary and academic, described the initiative as a significant step towards strengthening healthcare services and complementing government efforts in the sector.

“This is the first in the series of ambulances proposed for the Asaba Community Free Ambulance Service. It will operate within our community to add value to our healthcare system and complement government efforts,” the monarch said.

The respected monarch disclosed that a dedicated emergency contact line for the service would soon be made public, assuring that additional ambulances would be acquired to ensure prompt evacuation of patients and emergency cases to hospitals across the kingdom.

Asaba Community Health Insurance Scheme underway: In another major healthcare initiative, Azinge announced plans to launch the Asaba Community Health Insurance Scheme, which he said would be driven by an illustrious son of Asaba.

He also revealed that a specialised hospital would be established to support the scheme and expand access to quality healthcare, reassuring the kingdom’s commitment to prioritising the health and well-being of its people.

Expressing confidence in the ability of the community to drive sustainable development, the Asagba noted that Asaba has consistently demonstrated the capacity to execute impactful projects through collective effort.

The ambulance donation and proposed health insurance scheme are expected to significantly enhance healthcare access, emergency response, and community welfare within Asaba Kingdom.