RSG Acquires 15 Marine Ambulances

The Rivers State Government, has acquired 15 marine ambulances through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) office to boost healthcare of citizens in the riverine areas.

The marine ambulances which were received over the weekend by the Special Assistant to the Governor on MDGs, Mr Desire Bob-Manuel was part of government’s initiative to meet the MDGs goals in the health sector.

Mr Bob-Manuel noted that the new ambulances would facilitate emergency medical services in the university’s communities of the state and was geared to cover 15 core riverine local government areas.

He stated that the marine ambulances were fully equipped with life saving facilities, plus a cold room to support immunisation and other health services targeted at remote communities in the state.

He said, “when the ambulances are fully operational, they would be integrated into the Rivers State Government Emergency Medical programme.

Mr Bob-Manuel disclosed that the office had embarked on training about 300 personnel to operate the boats in order to make the scheme sustainable.

The Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on MDGs further disclosed that his office would continue to improve on the medical sector, as it was planning to refurbish the State School of Nursing to boost manpower in the sector.

He further stated that the MDGs office had started building two new hostels in the State School of Nursing and that by next year, it would start installing standard facilities in the institution.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, has hailed the MDGs office for assisting the state in the area of health.

Speaking at the hand over ceremony of the new 15 marine ambulances at the weekend, Dr Parker said the new boats would help reduce response time, especially in the area of emergency.

He assured that the ambulances, would be put to good use, as he commended Governor Chibuike Amaechi for tapping the benefits of the MDGs, “this singular gesture shows that the governor is alive to the challenge in the health sector,” he said.