Following the courtesy visit, the National Programme Manager of NEMSAS proceeded to the Bayelsa Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (BEMSAS) Office in Yenagoa to inspect facilities and assess the operational readiness of the agency.
The NEMSAS delegation was conducted on a facility tour by the Acting Head of Operations and Director of Public Health, Dr. Ebikapaye Okoyen.
During the inspection, the delegation observed that the BEMSAS office houses a modern call and response centre equipped with a large digital display screen that maps the real-time locations of ambulance units stationed along major routes across the state. The centre is staffed by dedicated personnel who operate 24-hour emergency response services, enabling members of the public to directly contact the control room and receive prompt emergency medical assistance.
Dr. Okoyen also guided the delegation to the BEMSAS blood bank facility and the training auditorium, where lectures and capacity-building activities for emergency medical personnel are conducted. Training equipment, including CPR and first aid simulation mannequins, were demonstrated to the NEMSAS Programme Manager during the visit.
The inspection further extended to the Marine Base of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Transport in Yenagoa, where the NEMSAS delegation assessed the boat ambulances designed to provide emergency medical services within the state’s riverine and marshy terrains. The facilities and equipment onboard the ambulances were inspected to evaluate their capacity for effective emergency medical response in hard-to-reach communities.
Dr. Okoyen assured the NEMSAS Programme Manager of the operational readiness of the boat ambulances and reaffirmed BEMSAS’ commitment to ensuring lifesaving emergency services even in previously inaccessible locations.
In his concluding remarks, the National Programme Manager of NEMSAS, Dr. Doubra Emuren, expressed satisfaction with the level of infrastructure and operational readiness observed at BEMSAS. He commended the management and staff for their dedication and professionalism and encouraged them to sustain their efforts while ensuring full compliance with national standards and best practices in emergency medical care delivery.
Raymond Ken-Mbata, reporting for Health Pharm Media.
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