The Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Fire Service of Nigeria have agreed to join force to provide efficient Emergency Rescue Operation Services in the Country.
This was made known on Tuesday 12th April, 2016 when the Minister of State Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire,met with the Controller –General, Federal Fire Service of Nigeria, Engr. Joseph Garba Annebi in the Fire Service Headquarter Abuja.
The Minister said that provision of emergency services is the responsibilities of many Departments and Agencies of Government including Federal Fire Service of Nigeria. Federal Fire Service plays two major roles in emergency response, first is to control and investigate fire incidence and second to provide rescue services before taken the victims to the hospital.
“It is because of these two main functions that we need to have close collaboration between the fire service and Federal Ministry of Health and other agencies responsible for rescue operations”.
The Minister said that the essence of the collaboration is to work together and provide quick emergency response and harmonize areas of overlapping. Some Departments or Agencies have ambulances, some provide first aid treatment, we want to pool all our resources together and deploy them in such a way that we can work efficiently and cover the whole country.
“We want improved response, improved speed in such a way that we should arrive at scenes of incidence immediately and be able to render synergised service at minimal cost”.
Dr. Ehanire also said that the two Agencies, Health and Fire Service would share ideas, exchange of knowledge and skills on rescue operation so that whoever comes first at the scene can be able to perform little functions of the other before he come and take over.
In his remarks, the Controller –General, Federal Fire Service of Nigeria Engr. Joseph Garba Annebi said that fire service is actually involved in fire fighting as well as rescuing of victims from any disaster.
He said that health and fire / rescue services must work hand in hand because all works of fire service ends up in the hospital.
Annebi said that they are ready at any time to partner with Federal Ministry of Health to provide short courses to the medical personnel for effective service delivery. “Your visit today has open door to the two Agencies to work together to save lives and properties of Nigerians” he said.
