The Lagos State government has spotlight the life-saving impact as well as trauma care interventions of the State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS, through real-life testimonials from beneficiaries and service users.
The move, aimed at strengthening public trust in pre-hospital emergency care, came to the fore at a Media Engagement, held in Alausa.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, who explained that the event, themed, “Highlighting Impact”, was to drive awareness around services offered by LASAMBUS, urged Lagosians to create way for ambulances during emergencies.
In his presentation titled, “Lagos State Prehospital Emergency Care, Past, Present and Future”, Dr Ogboye restated the commitment of the state government to ensure prompt and accessible emergencies services.
He noted that the State’s pre-hospital emergency care system had evolved over the years, as it continued to embark on training of personnel, while leveraging technology to meet the growing needs of the state’s population.
“The government is introducing new solutions to address challenges such as traffic delays, vague location descriptions, crowd interference, and ambulance vandalism. Planned innovations include the deployment of 10 motorcycle ambulances, a first responder volunteer scheme, and the rejig of water ambulances for riverine communities” PS emphasized
Dr Ogboye disclosed that the state government was building new ambulance bases, revamping existing ones, improving response time, procuring more emergency radio and mobile tablets for LASAMBUS, which had attended to two thousand nine hundred and ninety four emergencies, so far this year.
“We have consistently recorded extremely low mortality during transit, often just one case annually, which speaks to the clinical capability of our team,” he said.
“We are also engaging private helicopter providers for potential air ambulance support in critical cases,” Ogboye said, adding that the government has made significant investments in digital communication upgrades, tracking systems, and modular ambulance deployment points across the state.
Some beneficiaries who shared their experiences thanked the Lagos Government for its efforts and proactiveness in providing emergencies and trauma care services, which had improved the safety of lives in the State.
Several beneficiaries who have used LASAMBUS services shared their experiences during the session and their testimonies served as the emotional highlight of the event. Mr. Adebayo Akinola narrated how LASAMBUS rescued his uncle after an accident in Oshodi. “Their prompt response was the reason my uncle is still alive today,” he said. “We didn’t pay a kobo, yet we received world-class service.”
For Omotayo Oluwakemi Adeyinka, a Director in Education District I, her testimony was deeply personal. She recounted how a young boy was hit by her car on Agege Bridge and went into a coma. “The private hospital couldn’t help. But LASAMBUS came, transferred him, and stayed until he was stabilized. I offered money, and they declined, it’s truly free!” she said, visibly moved.
Mr. Akintayo Moshood, another beneficiary, said he painted the LASAMBUS ambulance wall in Agege out of gratitude. “I fainted from a fall. They rescued me, treated me with dignity, and didn’t even know who I was,” he recalled. “I wanted to do something, anything, to say thank you.”
In a 2 a.m. emergency, Sulaimon Kabir Olanrewaju found himself struggling to breathe. “We couldn’t find a car. Then we called 767. Within five minutes, LASAMBUS arrived. That was my first time using an emergency line. They saved my life,” he shared emotionally.
Morufu Muriana Ademola, a spare parts dealer from Ibadan, narrated how a tragic motor accident in Lagos nearly claimed his life. “My intestines were out. I was unconscious for months. I’m alive because LASAMBUS intervened,” he said. “I’m not even a Lagosian, yet I received help.”
Reporting by Yemisi Dada