Ondo revives EMS, offers accident victims 48 hours free treatment

The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has revived the state’s moribund Emergency Medical Services to ensure the prompt rescue and treatment of accident victims at the government’s expense.
The EMS, established by a previous administration, had been inactive for years before being restructured for renewed operation.

Speaking at the 2025 Annual Socio-Scientific Conference and Training of the Association of Medical Social Workers of Nigeria held at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, the governor said the initiative had been rebranded to improve response time and service delivery.
Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Health Matters, Prof. Simidele Odimayo, said renovation works were ongoing at 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 commended medical social workers for their role in bridging socio-economic gaps in healthcare access, noting that the state was also implementing reforms across its tertiary and secondary health facilities to restore public confidence in the health sector.

“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 new staff housing, solar-powered lighting, boreholes for improved hygiene, and perimeter fencing to enhance safety,” he said.

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

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He further charged them to adopt a data-driven approach in their service delivery, adding that maintaining data on financial waivers for indigent patients and tracking the extent of financial aid mobilised for patient support could serve as “valuable resources for clinical and economic research, as well as guide donors and support organisations in future interventions.”

The keynote speaker at the conference, Prof. Jane Adebusuyi, of the Lead City University, Ibadan, urged all medical social workers to actively embrace their advocacy roles in assisting the vulnerable.

“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