Let’s not abuse emergency services – Akufo-Addo cautions

President Akufo-Addo has cautioned the people of Ghana not to abuse the emergency health care system of the country which has been given a great boost with the introduction of a single emergency contact number (112) as well as three hundred and seven (307) State of the Art Ambulances.

Addressing attendees of the Commissioning and distribution ceremony of some three hundred and seven (307) ambulances under Government’s flagship programme, “One Constituency, One Ambulance”, at the Black Star Square, President Akufo-Addo said information available indicates that some citizens have been misusing the emergency service number, a development he says could in itself put the lives of other members of the citizenry at risk.

“I will appeal that this improvement in the provision of emergency services were not abused. We are told that 90% of calls made to the providers of emergency services are usually prank calls. This is not right as it o ly endangers the life of Ghanaians in need” President Akufo-Addo stated.

President Akufo-Addo called on all the sixteen (16) Regional Ministers in the country as well as Metropolitan and Municipal Chief Executives and all health officials to provide the needed cooperation and support to make the operationalization of the 307 ambulances a success. He also urged the NAS to ensure satisfactory maintenance of the Ambulances.

“The goal of this government is to establish in our a country a strong and accessible health care system of world class quality which will assure the health and well-being of our people and I entreat all of you to be an integral part of this visions” President Akufo-Addo posited.

Health Minister

Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, in his remarks at the ceremony said accessibility to Health care will improve significantly with the deployment of one ambulance to each Constituency of the country. He drew the attention of Members of Parliament to note that the ambulances being sent to their Constituencies will be managed by the Ghana Ambulance Service and none other. He urged his colleague MPs to assist the NAS to serve their respective constituents.

“I will like to call on the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, the CEOs of the Teaching Hospitals, the Regional Directors of Health Services as well as Heads of All Ministry of Health Agencies to Cooperate and collaborate with National Ambulance Service as they carry our their duties in providing pre hospital care services in the country so that together we can all assist in the building of a comprehensive, effective and efficient emergency response system for our country” The Health Minister said.

CEO of the NAS

Chief Executive Officer of the National Ambulance Service (NAS), Professor Ahmed Nuhu Zakariah, in his statement enumerated the components and detailed composition of each of the ambulances as well as the emergency services that a patient would receive once the emergency care system is contacted. He indicated that the one hundred and forty five (145) news stations for the Ghana Ambulance Service that are coming onboard to add up to the existing one hundred and thirty (130) is a welcomed development that will go a long way to improve emergency care service delivery in the country.

Mock Demonstration

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) demonstrated to the admiration of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and all other attendees, the Services they will be offering in a situation of emergency across the State.

National Ambulance Service

The National Ambulance Service (NAS), was established in the year 2004 as an Agency of the Ministry of Health. The NAS is a product of collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Ghana National Fire Service of the Ministry of Interior. The role and responsibility of the NAS is to establish and operate a nationwide comprehensive pre-hospital emergency service.