The Senior Special Assistant to Abia State Governor on Homeland Security, Fire, and Medical Emergencies, Chukwunenye Alajemba, has announced the rollout of the Abia State Emergency Tripod System aimed at providing swifter response to medical, fire, and security emergencies in the state.
Alajemba who stated this during a public sensitization campaign in Umuahia, on Friday, noted that the state-of-the-art emergency service is “free for everyone and designed to stand the test of time.”
He said the initiative which was recently commissioned by Governor Alex Otti, was also designed to assist pregnant women during emergencies.
According to him, “Maternal mortality has been a major problem in Nigeria. The Governor wants to solve this by ensuring women in labor are transported quickly and safely to medical facilities.”
He highlighted the system’s capabilities, which include; advanced ambulances, revamped fire services, and enhanced security measures.
“We have deployed five state-of-the-art ambulances equipped with automated external defibrillators, oxygen tanks, nebulizers, and other essential tools. Two ambulances are stationed in Aba, two in Umuahia, and one in Ohafia. The aim is to ensure swift response times, targeting arrivals within four minutes for critical cases,” he said.
Alajemba who further stated that fire safety is also a key focus of the initiative, explained that the fire department has been reformed to ensure quicker responses to incidents, adding that “every second counts during a fire disaster.”
While the system currently operates in Aba and Umuahia, there are plans to expand services to the rural areas. According to him, smaller patrol vehicles would soon be deployed to navigate communities that larger ambulances cannot reach. He noted that the sensitization campaign would expand to Aba and all 17 local government areas to educate residents about the services.
He said despite economic challenges, the State Government is optimistic about expanding the initiative, relying on public support and investments to sustain and improve the services.
He called on Abians, especially those in the diaspora, to support the initiative, while Residents can access the emergency services by calling the following numbers 08133556900 or 020-122-75492, with both numbers available for calls and WhatsApp messages.
“The Governor left his lucrative job to serve Abia State, and we are all volunteers in this project. Every Abian, whether in Nigeria or abroad, should come back and help us,” Alajemba said .