Senator Smart Adeyemi

Dele Ogbodo in Abuja

The  Senate Committee Chairman on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and founder Kingstone Charity Foundation, Senator Smart Adeyemi, and  two American non-governmental organisations, the Medical International, in Georgia and Ambulance Medical Foundation, New Jersey, have concluded arrangements  to procure and distribute ambulances and medical equipment worth over N100 million to hospitals in Kogi State.

Adeyemi told reporters in Abuja that the collaborative initiative has become imperative in view of untimely deaths being recorded across the state whenever a medical emergency occurs.

He stated that on a recent visit to the United States, he was able to convince the two American  to collaborate with the Kingstone Charity Organisation to provide some succour to the people of Kogi West Senatorial District and the entire residents of the state.

According to him, Kingstone will defray about 70 per cent of the cost of the equipment, while the American NGOs will bear the cost up to about 30 per cent. He stated that the ambulances are different from medical equipment imported by his NGO in July, which are being shared among Kogi hospitals.  “This will go a long way in improving the lots of the people of my senatorial district, Kogi West and to a large extent my people in Kogi Central and Kogi East senatorial districts.” the senator said.

He disclosed that 20 ambulances which constitute the first batch and which are equipped with life support facilities.

including oxygen, will be arriving Nigeria by October, adding that other ambulances will arrive the country at a later date.

He said:  “I have heard reports of people dying as a result of bleeding through accidents, some women have died in labour due to lack of ambulances to convey them to nearby hospitals.  It is our view at Kingstone that this type of initiative will help reduce untimely deaths resulting in people bleeding to death and also reduce fatalities in case of motor accidents.”