The Ogun State Government has commissioned an ambulance boat which was donated by United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF to enhance emergency response and improve access to healthcare services in riverine and hard-to-reach communities across the State.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Makun-Omi, Ogun Waterside area of the State, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said the intervention was part of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and ensure that residents in remote areas were not excluded from timely medical care.

Dr. Coker noted that difficult terrain and water transportation challenges had continued to hinder access to healthcare in riverine communities, adding that the ambulance boat would provide swift response during medical emergencies and reduce avoidable deaths.

She said the project aligned with the administration’s broader healthcare reforms aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes, emergency response systems and service delivery at the grassroots, describing it as a strategic investment that would deepen the impact of the Governor’s primary healthcare initiatives and improve the referral system for patients in isolated communities.

In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, Hon. Adetoye Odunoiki, represented by one of his officers, Hon. Olabode Ogunlana, commended the State government for the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful for residents, saying that the commissioning of the ambulance boat marked an important milestone for Ogun Waterside Local Government, a feat that underscored the collective commitment of Government and Development Partners towards saving lives and improving the overall well-being of the people.

He also stated that the donation would significantly enhance the transportation of pregnant women and other residents across riverine and coastal communities, ensuring improved access to timely and quality healthcare services. Noting that the intervention would reduce delays in emergency response and strengthen healthcare delivery in hard-to-reach areas of the local government.

Speaking on behalf of the Development Partners, Vaccine Supply and Logistics Consultant, UNICEF, Mrs. Florence Moloku, commended the current administration for its significant progress in creating a healthier environment, noting that UNICEF would continue to ensure quality health services for the children and mothers to reduce mortality, she urged local government and the community to maintain the ambulance boat, emphasising its crucial role in facilitating immunisation services and outreach programs.

Speaking on behalf of the host communities, Chairman of Chairmen of Ward Development Councils, Hon. Mrs. Aderonke Adekunmisi, expressed appreciation to the State government for the gesture, saying the ambulance boat would significantly improve emergency response and healthcare access in the area.

She added that the intervention would benefit pregnant women, children and the elderly, while urging community members to support the effective use and maintenance of the facility.