Dr Bridjan Foster Ansong, the Deputy Director of Operations at the National Ambulance Service (NAS), has stated that NAS responded to over 110,000 cases across the country between 2020 and 2022.
He has, however, noted that the remarkable achievement notwithstanding, NAS cannot be said to be everywhere to be able to respond to all emergencies across the country promptly and stressed the need to have First Responders at various communities and strategic locations, who could respond and stabilise patients before the arrival of the ambulance crew.
Dr. Ansong disclosed this at a day’s life support workshop organised by Elijeko Foundation, a non-profit organisation and Owesome Books, in collaboration with NAS, at the Garden City University in Kumasi.
The workshop was aimed at equipping the general public with the information and skills required to provide pre-hospital medical interventions.
Participants included qualified medical professionals from George Washington University, USA, George Mission University, USA, and the Garden City University in Kumasi.
Dr. Ansong stated that it is in line with the shortfall that they have seen the partnership with Elijeko Foundation as very timely and beneficial to the development and growth of Emergency Medical Services in Ghana.
He urged other stakeholders, especially the NGOs in Health and other development partners to join this laudable initiative to ensure that more communities are trained in Basic Life Support Skills to help reduce the number of avoidable deaths in our country.
He assured Elijeko Foundation of NAS’ full cooperation and commitment to ensure that the partnership grows to help achieve the objectives of the programme as well as the achievement of the Universal Health Coverage for the country.
Mr Andrews Kwabena Nyantakye, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Elijeko Foundation noted the intervention was timely and could save somebody in critical condition.
He urged individuals to also help in their own small way in times of emergency, before calling for the Ambulance Service.
He disclosed that his outfit was working together with the NAS and National Blood Bank to support educational programmes, in an effort to reach out to many people as possible, to inculcate in them the need to give a helping hand in case of emergencies, to ensure quality healthcare delivery.
