The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has donated a state-of-the-art ambulance worth millions of naira to the state government in order to strengthen emergency medical services in Cross State.
Receiving the vehicle on behalf of the state, at the General Hospital yesterday in Calabar, the state commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, described the gesture as timely and crucial to improving emergency response capacity at the grassroots.
“We sincerely appreciate His Excellency, the President, for initiating this intervention that is helping to extend essential services—especially in the health sector—to all Nigerians,” Ayuk maintained.
The commissioner stated that the ambulance will be stationed in the Calabar area, where it will support critical emergency services in obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics, and trauma care.
Ayuk, however, warned that misuse of the ambulance for non-medical purposes, including funerals, will have consequences.
“Ambulances are meant to save lives, not to carry the dead. We will not tolerate any misuse of this vehicle for burial ceremonies or commercial leasing,” he cautioned.
He lauded the synergy between the state government and its representative at the NDDC, noting that consistent communication and collaboration have ensured that critical health interventions arrive without delay.
“This donation aligns seamlessly with Governor Bassey Otu’s ‘People First’ agenda, which prioritizes healthcare access for the poor and vulnerable,” Ayuk stated.
He enumerated Cross River’s innovative partnerships in healthcare delivery, with a particular reference to Zipline—a logistics company using drone technology to transport medical supplies to hard-to-reach communities.
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