Plateau State Government Announces the Establishment of the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System

The Plateau State Government has announced the establishment of the Plateau State Emergency Services and Ambulance System in the state. Consequently, a Coordinator has also been appointed to man the affairs of the initiative.

This was disclosed by the Honorable Commissioner for Health Dr Cletus Bako Shurkuk during the monthly Ministerial Press Briefing organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication led by the Honorable Commissioner Musa Ibrahim Ashom held at the Joseph Gomwalk Secretariat on Monday 6th May 2024.

Recall that in October 2023 a team from the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System visited Plateau State in order to onboard the state into the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System. In January 2024, a provisional approval was given to Plateau State to commence a pilot takeoff of the platform with Jos North, Jos South and Riyom LGAs onboard.

Leading critical stakeholders advocating for the establishment of the Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System such as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Plateau State had appealed to the State Government to expedite action and launch the Plateau State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System.

The State NMA chairman, Dr Bapiga’an William Audu, had made the appeal in a statement on Friday 26th January 2024 in Jos. Dr Audu, said that with the coming on board of Plateau into the national emergency medical response platform, it was imperative for the launch of PLASEMSAS.

He noted that a properly manned and well equipped emergency medical response system, would go a long way in reducing deaths, morbidities associated with the attacks, as well as provide care for injured security operatives and other first responders.

In response to this and many more efforts invested, the government has not only established the Plateau State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System, the government has also disclosed that a coordinator has been appointed to man the affairs the system, according to the Honorable Commissioner for Health Dr Cletus Shurkuk.