Government upgrades Plateau hospital to National Trauma Centre

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The Nigerian federal government upgraded Riyom General Hospital in Plateau State to a National Trauma Centre, operating as an outpost of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). During the launch of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), officials deployed 15 ambulances, including five conventional buses and 10 tricycles, to bolster emergency services in the region. State and federal representatives, including Governor Caleb Mutfwang and Permanent Secretary Kachollom Daju, stated the move aimed to improve medical access for residents in rural and hard-to-reach areas. The initiative incorporates a federal mandate providing vulnerable patients with 48 hours of free emergency treatment.

Consequences

The deployment of these resources is expected to facilitate faster emergency response times and patient transfers, building on the Plateau State government's prior record of over 2,000 successful emergency transfers in six months. Additionally, the establishment of the trauma centre and the 48-hour free treatment initiative may directly contribute to further reducing the state's maternal mortality ratio, which has already declined from 905 to approximately 500 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Sources

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