FG, Katsina Launch 18 Ambulances, 238 Tricycles, Commission General Hospital

The Federal Government and Katsina State Government have launched 18 ambulances and 238 tricycle ambulances as part of efforts to strengthen emergency healthcare delivery across the state.

The intervention includes 15 Advanced Life Support Ambulances launched by the state government, while the Federal Government donated three additional ambulances, bringing the total to 18.

The facilities were unveiled on Tuesday in Charanchi by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda.

The event also featured the commissioning of the General Hospital, Charanchi, which was upgraded at a cost of N2.059 billion.

Pate said the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (SEMSAS) would connect communities and local governments to emergency medical services, enabling residents to receive prompt assistance and access appropriate healthcare facilities.

He said the intervention was aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which brings the Federal Government, states, the FCT and development partners together to strengthen the country’s health system.

Governor Radda said the launch of the emergency ambulance system marked a major milestone in the state’s efforts to save lives and improve access to timely emergency healthcare.

He said the 15 Advanced Life Support Ambulances would provide specialised emergency care and patient stabilisation during transportation, while the 238 tricycle ambulances would improve access to emergency transport in rural and hard-to-reach communities.

Radda said the Charanchi General Hospital had been equipped to provide diagnostic, medical, surgical, maternity, emergency and other essential services to residents of the area and neighbouring communities.

He disclosed that the hospital was the fourth of six secondary healthcare facilities established by his administration, adding that the Funtua and Mai’adua General Hospitals were at advanced stages of completion and expected to be commissioned before the end of 2026.

The governor also said more than 280 comprehensive and primary healthcare centres had been renovated and revitalised across Katsina State.

According to him, the state government has recruited 804 healthcare personnel across various cadres in the last three years, commenced postgraduate medical residency training in six departments and begun the solarisation of hospitals to provide round-the-clock electricity.

The Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System, Dr Adamu Aminu Adamu, said the agency would strengthen emergency response through ambulance coordination, rapid response, patient transportation and improved referral links between communities and healthcare facilities.

Aminu said the initiative would particularly improve access to emergency transportation for pregnant women in labour and other patients in remote communities.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing preventable deaths and ensuring that residents of Katsina State are not denied timely emergency medical care because of distance or delays in accessing healthcare.