The federal government has upgraded the Riyom General Hospital in Plateau State to a National Trauma Centre and deployed 15 ambulances to the state to strengthen emergency medical services.
The hospital will operate as an outpost of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), the government announced on Monday during the launch of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) in Riyom.
The intervention comprises five conventional emergency ambulance buses and 10 tricycle ambulances for rural and hard-to-reach communities.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented at the event by his deputy, Josephine Piyo, described the development as a major investment in emergency healthcare and saving lives.
Mr Mutfwang said the intervention was consistent with his administration’s healthcare policy of ensuring that residents were not denied medical care because of distance, cost or lack of transportation.
