Lagos Taking Steps to Sanitise Emergency Medical Services
The Lagos State Government is taking steps to enhance its emergency medical services despite facing significant challenges.
Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, highlighted issues affecting the Lagos State Ambulance Service, including impersonation of officials, vandalism of assets, and physical attacks on personnel.
To address these challenges, the government is working to improve emergency services. One key initiative is establishing ambulance points in all 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas to reduce response times and save lives.
This plan aims to strengthen the pre-hospital care system and improve the referral process, targeting a 5-minute response time.
The Lagos State Ambulance Service has achieved notable milestones. Between 2021 and 2025, it responded to 44,152 out of 45,277 emergency calls, representing a 97.5% response rate.
During this period, 36,919 patients were treated, with 11,200 patients treated in 2023 alone. The service also recorded zero in-transit deaths in 2022 and 2025 due to robust triage systems and prompt medical interventions.
Notably, the survival rate of patients transported improved significantly, reaching 100% in 2025 compared to 60% in 2021.
Dr. Ogunyemi urged residents to cooperate with emergency responders by giving ambulances the right of way and avoiding obstructions at accident scenes.
She emphasized the importance of authentic emergency services, advising the public to dial 767 or 112 for genuine LASAMBUS assistance.
