Overpopulated metropolis Lagos relies on a scant 100 ambulances to cater to its 20 million inhabitants
In the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, population over 20 million, the need for efficient ambulance services is more pressing than ever. This is according to Ibukun Tunde-Oni, a 36-year-old doctor and business founder, who has made it her mission to improve the current state of emergency response in the city.
Tunde-Oni, who was motivated by the deaths of two uncles – one from a heart attack and the other in an ambulance while having an asthma attack – has been vocal about the inadequacy of the current system. She stated that '100 ambulances for Lagos is not enough.'
Queen Soetan, a 33-year-old ambulance driver, echoes this sentiment. Soetan has firsthand experience with the challenges faced by ambulance crews. She noted that people's reluctance to move out of the way affects intervention times significantly.
The city's ambulances are known to blast sirens, take shortcuts, and speed as fast as they can. However, lack of coordination with hospitals means that ambulances don't always know which locations have open beds. This can lead to unnecessary delays and increased stress for patients in critical condition.
Michelin Hunsa, a resident of Lagos, experienced this firsthand when she waited for two hours to get an ambulance for her unconscious mother. Fortunately, Hunsa's mother, who was suffering a cerebral haemorrhage, ultimately survived the ordeal.
Eight Medical, a private company, operates 34 ambulances in Lagos, aiming for a response time of eight minutes or less. This initiative, however, is not without its challenges. Notorious traffic jams in Lagos often cause long waits for ambulances, and mistrust among other drivers contributes to delays in ambulance response times due to reluctance to move out of the way.
The government of Lagos currently provides 35 ambulances, but the city has implemented innovative solutions to serve communities on the water's edge, such as a floating clinic and boat ambulance. However, funding limitations prevent expansion of these initiatives, and the priority remains increasing traditional ambulances, primarily through public-private partnerships.
Successive governments have been accused of mismanaging the nation's oil wealth, and public services in Nigeria have not kept pace with the country's rapid population growth, already Africa's most populous with over 220 million people. As Lagos is projected to become the most populated city in the world by 2100, with 88 million residents, the need for improved ambulance services becomes increasingly urgent.
Tunde-Oni has not only voiced her concerns but has also experienced the challenges of delayed ambulance response. She waited three hours for care after a road accident. Despite these challenges, she remains hopeful and committed to improving the situation in Lagos.
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