The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) have donated four fully-equipped ambulance boats to the Bayelsa State Government, in a continued effort to strengthen healthcare and emergency response in the state’s remote riverine areas.
The latest donation follows the six ambulance boats provided last year by the international agencies. The gesture marks another significant step toward overcoming the healthcare access challenges faced by residents in hard-to-reach communities, where transportation barriers often hinder timely medical intervention.
Funded by GAVI and its partners, the boats are outfitted with essential medical equipment, making them suitable for emergency care and safe patient transport.
The ambulance boats are particularly vital for transporting patients, especially pregnant women and newborns, to nearby medical facilities, helping to ensure prompt and potentially life-saving access to healthcare services.
Alongside the ambulance boats, UNICEF and Gavi donated a 30kVA soundproof generator to the Bayelsa State Primary Healthcare Board.
This, according to them, will enhance operational efficiency, ensuring that healthcare services can function effectively, even in areas with unstable power supply.
The bodies contended that the initiative not only aimed to provide emergency medical assistance but also to support Immunisation outreach programmes in isolated communities, thereby improving overall healthcare delivery and contributing to public health goals in the region.
During the handover ceremony at the Government Jetty, Ms. Judith Leveillee, Chief of Field Office at UNICEF Nigeria, emphasized the critical role of these boats in improving health outcomes in hard-to-reach areas.
Her remarks highlighted the commitment of UNICEF and its partners to enhance healthcare accessibility for vulnerable populations.
She said the initiative underscored the importance of innovative solutions in addressing healthcare challenges in remote areas.
Leveillee noted that by improving access to medical services, the ambulance boats would play a crucial role in saving lives and enhancing health outcomes in Bayelsa State, particularly in its riverine communities.
She said the collaboration between UNICEF, GAVI, and the Bayelsa State government represented a proactive approach to healthcare delivery, showcasing how strategic partnerships could lead to meaningful improvements in public health infrastructure.
Leveillee stated: “The provision of these ambulance boats represents a critical step towards ensuring that even the most remote communities have access to lifesaving healthcare services.
“The boats would serve not only as transportation for patients but also as mobile platforms for delivering essential healthcare interventions, including immunisations, antenatal care, and health education directly to those in need.”
Reflecting on the event, Leveillee remarked, “I believe the rain and lightning during today’s event inspire us to navigate the creeks and bring healthcare to the vulnerable and less privileged.”
She expressed gratitude to GAVI, WHO, and all health workers involved in the project, commending their efforts in improving healthcare delivery in Bayelsa.
According to her, the project has employed between 800 and 900 health workers in the state.
She urged the Bayelsa State government to integrate this workforce to maintain the progress achieved so far.
“We are also handing over a generator to ensure the boat house is fully operational,” she said, reaffirming UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the state’s healthcare initiatives.
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Receiving the items on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, expressed gratitude to UNICEF and its partners, describing the gesture as lifesaving.
“For us as a state, we believe no mother or child should die from preventable complications,” Brisibe said.
“Public health should not lead to any mortality in our society. This is the foundation upon which we work, and with partners like WHO and UNICEF, we are achieving tangible results,” the health commissioner said.
He assured the partners that the ambulance boats would be put to effective use to promptly evacuate mothers and children in need of urgent medical attention.
In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Appah Williams, revealed that UNICEF and GAVI had previously donated six ambulance boats under the Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The event marked another step forward in bridging the healthcare gap in Bayelsa rural communities, with stakeholders pledging continued collaboration to enhance health services across the state.