The Federal Government has deployed new ambulances to selected healthcare facilities in Bauchi State as part of measures to strengthen emergency medical referrals and improve access to timely treatment.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, unveiled the intervention during an official engagement in Bauchi.
The ambulances are expected to serve Toro General Hospital, Gamawa Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Misau, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) and the Fistula Centre in Ningi.
The intervention is designed to improve the referral chain linking communities with secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities, particularly for patients requiring urgent medical attention.
It comes barely two months after the Federal Government delivered about N10 billion worth of medical interventions to Bauchi, including ambulances, maternity kits, drugs and medical equipment.
The July intervention targeted 15 local government areas, with equipment distributed to primary healthcare centres to strengthen maternal and newborn health services.
Pate said strengthening emergency medical services remained an important component of the Federal Government’s health-sector reforms, particularly in underserved communities where distance and transportation can delay access to treatment.
At ATBUTH, the Federal Government has previously supported emergency services under the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System.
The minister also unveiled CNG facilities at ATBUTH as part of efforts to broaden the hospital’s energy options and support uninterrupted healthcare operations.
Beyond emergency response, Pate announced plans for a new ATBUTH complex and a major diagnostic centre.
He said a site had already been identified for the proposed expansion, while the diagnostic facility would provide advanced services and, according to him, become the first of its kind in Nigeria.
The Federal Government has continued to expand emergency and specialised healthcare infrastructure nationwide. In May, President Bola Tinubu launched 145 tricycle ambulances alongside other health infrastructure projects as part of efforts to improve emergency medical response, particularly in rural communities.
For Bauchi, the latest deployment is expected to strengthen the capacity of health facilities to respond to emergencies while improving the movement of patients requiring higher-level care.
