World Ambulance, Paramedics Day: Ogun govt urges use of emergency services 

Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening emergency medical services, urging residents to make effective use of the state’s ambulance system by promptly calling the emergency response line whenever the need arises.

The Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, spoke on Wednesday during a sensitisation walk to commemorate the 2026 World Ambulance and Paramedics Day in Abeokuta.

Coker described ambulance personnel and paramedics as silent heroes whose dedication continues to save lives across the state.

The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Kayode Oladehinde, said the annual observance was an opportunity to celebrate the selfless sacrifices of emergency responders who work round the clock to ensure that people requiring urgent medical attention receive prompt and professional care.

She expressed appreciation to Governor Dapo Abiodun for his unwavering support for the emergency healthcare system, noting that the administration’s investments had significantly transformed ambulance and emergency response services in the state.

“Our commitment to strengthening emergency medical services has yielded remarkable results. With the unwavering support of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, we have increased our ambulance fleet from four to 30, with ambulances strategically deployed across all 20 local government areas of the state to ensure that emergency medical care is readily accessible to our people.

“In addition, we have deployed 80 tricycle ambulances to improve emergency response in rural communities, as well as two boat ambulances stationed in Ipokia and Ogun Waterside Local Government Areas to serve residents of riverine and other hard-to-reach communities.

“We also operate a 24-hour emergency call centre through 08112000033, and we encourage residents to make use of this service whenever the need arises,” she said.

The commissioner explained that the sensitisation walk was also aimed at increasing public awareness of the availability of ambulance services, stressing that timely access to emergency care depended largely on residents knowing when and how to seek help.

Speaking earlier, the Deputy Director, Ogun State Ambulance and Emergency Services, Festus Adetonwa, urged residents to take advantage of the emergency medical services whenever they encounter medical emergencies requiring immediate intervention.

He said public awareness remained critical to the success of emergency response services, assuring residents that trained paramedics and ambulance personnel were available round the clock to provide prompt pre-hospital care and safe transportation of patients to appropriate healthcare facilities.