Aiyedatiwa Revives Ondo Emergency Medical Services, Promises Free 48-Hour Treatment for Accident Victims

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has revived the state’s long-dormant Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to ensure the prompt rescue and treatment of accident victims at no immediate cost to them.

The EMS, originally established by a previous administration, had been inactive for years before being restructured and rebranded under the current government to improve response time and service delivery.

Speaking at the 2025 Annual Socio-Scientific Conference and Training of the Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria (AMSWON), held at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, the governor said the initiative was part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening healthcare accessibility and public trust in the system.

Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Special Adviser on Health Matters, Prof. Simidele Odimayo, announced that renovation works were underway at key EMS base stations in Bolorunduro (Ondo East), Igbara-Oke (Ifedore), and Ore (Odigbo).

“Accident victims in the state can now access emergency assistance by calling dedicated mobile numbers, after which ambulances will promptly convey them to the nearest general hospital for stabilisation and treatment. Significantly, the Ondo State Government will cover all medical expenses incurred within the first 48 hours of such emergencies,” he said.

The governor also praised medical social workers for their critical role in bridging socio-economic gaps in healthcare access. He noted that ongoing reforms across tertiary and secondary health facilities were designed to improve infrastructure and service delivery.

“The secondary health facilities in Ikare Akoko, Okitipupa, and Ore are currently undergoing special interventions to upgrade infrastructure and improve accessibility. In addition, over 100 healthcare facilities, including general hospitals and primary health centres, are being renovated with staff housing, solar-powered lighting, boreholes for improved hygiene, and perimeter fencing to enhance safety,” Aiyedatiwa added.

In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Dr. Michael Gbala, emphasised the need for medical social workers to play a strategic role in promoting equity in healthcare delivery, ensuring that access to quality care is not dictated by geography, social status, or educational background.

He urged professionals in the field to adopt a data-driven approach, maintaining accurate records of financial waivers and aid mobilised for indigent patients. Such data, he said, could serve as valuable tools for clinical research, economic planning and donor support initiatives.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Jane Adebusuyi of Lead City University, Ibadan, called on medical social workers to embrace their advocacy responsibilities by speaking out for vulnerable patients.

“AMSWON, we are the voice of the voiceless and the hopeless in clinical settings. Therefore, we must break the culture of silence and speak on behalf of needy patients” she said.