Lagos Government Don Launch Emergency Ambulance Okada to Waka Pass Hold-Up, Save Life

Di Lagos State Government on Tuesday don unveil 10 brand new Motorcycle Response Unit (MRU) Ambulance bikes wey dem popularly dey call “Ambulance Okada.” Dem hand over di bikes to Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) as part of plan to reduce how long e dey take to respond to emergency and to make pre-hospital care stronger across di state. Di motorcycles wey dem specially fit with correct medical equipment na to help paramedics waka enter heavy traffic, small-small roads, and other places wey normal ambulance no dey reach quick. E go make dem reach people wey need help faster, especially for emergency wey every second dey important. For di official handover ceremony, Special Adviser to di Governor of Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, talk say di project na bold step to handle di kind wahala wey dey come with emergency response for big city like Lagos. She talk say, “Dis Ambu-bikes na Lagos answer to our own traffic problem. Dem go fit reach patient faster pass normal ambulance, do quick treatment, and if need dey, dem go call bigger ambulance to carry di person go hospital. This one go help save time, and e go save plenty lives.”

She still explain say each of di 220cc superbike get correct life-saving tools like BP machine (sphygmomanometer), stethoscope, pulse oximeter, nebulizer, glucometer, defibrillator (AED), oxygen kit, radio, siren, and better safety gear for di riders. According to her, trained paramedics go dey operate di bikes and dem go fit do first aid and basic life support for people wey collapse, dey bleed, or dey get breathing problem until bigger ambulance go show. She add say, “Dis bikes get almost everything wey full ambulance get, except bed. Our paramedics fit do CPR, stop bleeding, give drip, and stabilize patient for di spot.” Dr Ogunyemi come praise Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu say na him quick approve di project under him THEMES+ agenda. She talk say di move show say di government serious about using innovation to improve healthcare. “As dem present di proposal with data, Mr Governor no waste time, he approve am sharp-sharp. Dis one na another first for Nigeria, Lagos don set di pace again,” she talk.

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, talk say dis rollout na part of Lagos’ five-year plan to transform pre-hospital emergency service. He still reveal say Lagos don already get mobile intensive care units, boat ambulance, and dem dey work to bring air ambulance join. He talk say, “Di idea simple, bike go waka pass hold-up, paramedics go act quick, and ambulance go carry di person go hospital. Dis kind smooth system go help reduce how many people dey die and increase di chance to survive,” Ogboye talk. He still confirm say di MRU bikes don join LASAMBUS communication and data system to make sure response dey fast and correct. Director of LASAMBUS, Mrs Beatrice Makinde, talk say dis new step na serious game-changer for emergency service for Lagos. She say, “For many years, traffic don slow our response time. But with dis ambulance bikes, we fit now reach people on time, improve survival, and give Lagos people di emergency service wey dem deserve.”