ABIA EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE; INTRODUCING AN ADVANCED FUNCTION OF HEALTHCARE DELIVERY IN THE STATE.

Worldwide, healthcare service is a key element to development, no wonder it has always been said that "health is wealth". Hence, in his avowed commitment to deliver qualitative, affordable and available medical care to the good people and residents of Abia State, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has been carrying out various healthcare interventions in the State, which of course has impacted greatly in the lives of the people.

Operational only in two out of the thirty six States of the federation (Abia and Lagos), Emergency Medical Service delivery is one of the revolutionary healthcare services established by Governor Okezie Victor in Abia State. Known as Abia Emergency Medical Service, it is established to ensure victims of health emergencies in the State access healthcare, and this is done through a dialing any of these dedicated numbers; 112 or 08133536900 and 18133556900. Once the call centre is reached, such victim gets hope of being rescued and cared for.

Equally important to note is that the ambulances used for the emergency medical services are furnished with facilities and equipment for the effective, coordinated and timely delivery of health and safety services to victims of sudden illness or injury. The service focuses on providing timely care to victims of sudden and life-threatening injuries or emergencies in order to prevent needless mortality or long-term morbidity. The function of emergency medical service can be simplified into four main components; accessing emergency care, care in the community, care 'en route', and care upon arrival to receiving care at the health care facility. That is, the equipment are capable of sustaining a victim's life by providing out-of-hospital acute medical care from the point the victim is picked to the point he/she would receive definitive care. Also, the operators are trained medical personnel who are ever ready to provide healthcare services for the victims.

The above facts formed my recent curiosity to follow and understudy the activities of the Abia Emergency Medical Service unit. And my discovery of how they have, so far, impacted on many lives, did not surprise me at all, but has replaced my curiosity with more assurance that the newly purchased two more emergency ambulances (undergoing clearing process at the seaport) will double the impacts of their services in saving the lives of victims deserving emergency medical intervention in Abia State.

According to reports made available to me, the Abia Emergency Medical Services (AEMS) receive several emergency interventions calls weekly. On one of the occasions, the team got an emergency call around 10:20am to come and convey a burns victim from Umuala in Owerrinta, Isialangwa South to Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) Aba, for treatment. On getting there at 10:59am, the team met a middle aged widower(of 47yrs) with second degree burns which affected the upper left arm and both lower limbs. It was reported that he sustained the burns injury as a result of explosion that occurred while filling a kerosene lamp. The Patient was taken care of and handed over to ABSUTH A/E nurses by 11:40am for further treatment.

Also, the team got a call by 3.pm to attain to an emergency at Umuahia stadium and left immediately. Within five minutes the team got to the scene and met a 16 years-old girl who slumped during their sports competition. While taking history, it was discovered that she didn't eat before the sports. The team did some medical examinations so her vital signs read Bp=90/60mnthg.Pulse 100bm Spo2 98The team equally did the following; IV line set, dextrose water 1lit was given, the patient was stable and was transported to Federal Medical Centre (F.M.C) for expert management.

In a bid to live up to expectations of Abia people and residents, another emergency call was received from a good Nigerian around 11:35 am to come and rescue a victim who suddenly collapsed along Ngwa road Aba. The team got there by 12 pm and met a middle aged man in semi conscious state. The team found out some Vital signs which read: T 37.1, PR 82b/m, R 20c/m, B/P100/60mmHg, RBS 94mg/dl. Then IVF N/S 500ml given and he was taken to ABSUTH with good effect as patient became conscious and partially oriented in time and place. He was handed over to ABSUTH A/E staff at 12:15pm for proper treatment.

A similar intervention in this regard which helps to save life in an emergency health situation is a special first aid introduced by the Vicar Hope Foundation, a pet project of the wife of the Governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu known as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training. By this training any victim of emergency health issues who receives first aid before being attended to by experts always has the chance of surviving from such emergencies. This could help save many lives in times of health emergencies such as shock, heart attack, respiratory arrest among others.

The foregoing suggests that there is no gainsaying in the fact that Governor Ikpeazu is really on the move to deliver to Abia people and residents, available,affordable and qualitative healthcare services. Hence, it is pertinent to sustain the support for him. The recent resolutions of Ukwa/Ngwa people, Old Bende people, Abia Traders and Local Government Areas, clans and communities to adopt the Governor as their sole candidate is based on such visible achievements by his administration, which are not just pointers to emerging better Abia, but are impacting on the lives of Abians and residents positively. All and sundry should identify with him to encourage him to do more for Abia State and its people.

Indeed, the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu deserves commendation for all these efforts to fix Abia health sector and improve in life expectancy of the people in the State. There is therefore need for all to align with his vision of a better and progressive Abia. A sure way to do this is by obtaining one's PVC and getting ready to vote Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu again in 2019.

Bravo! The health friendly Governor of Abia State.

Ubani Newman Ubani,
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor
(New Media)

03/07/2018.
#AbiaOnline


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA-0HAO6IkU