President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the acquisition of an emergency medical helicopter to respond to healthcare emergencies across the country.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in a statement, that the ministry has already begun discussions with Airbus, Europe’s foremost aerospace corporation, on the establishment of Nigeria’s new Integrated National Ground-to-Air Health Emergency Management System.
The statement added that the minister met with Airbus officials and took the opportunity to inspect an Airbus Emergency Care Helicopter at a French government-backed air ambulance facility in Lyon, France.
According to the minister, the project forms part of the Federal Government’s wider health sector reform and investment programme aimed at strengthening emergency medical services nationwide.
“As part of the health sector renewal investment programme, we are broadening Nigeria’s public health infrastructure alongside enhancing private sector capacity for healthcare delivery, including emergency response services.
The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Scheme is currently being overhauled with the introduction of urban ambulances for cities and emergency response systems for rural communities. We are now also exploring helicopter-based emergency medical services.”
