Lagos launches floating clinic boat for waterway medical emergencies
Lagos State has launched the Floating Clinic Boat, a Fiber Glass, Mono Hull Boat 200HP x 2 capacity, to be used in attending to inland waterways’ medical emergencies.
The Lagos State Ministry of Health disclosed this in a press statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Tunbosun Ogunbanwo.
The Floating Clinic Boat, a brain child of the Ministry of Health and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), is equipped with four medical observation beds, medium sterilisation unit, o2 bottle, gauge, infusion stand, foldable stretcher and a fully kitted first aid box.
It is compartmentalised into four sections of the Wheel house (for captain and crew), observation room (for patients), doctors’ office and nurses’ station, and reception.
“The floating clinic boat will also be useful in the medical outreach for communities who live along the river.
“The procurement of the clinic boat, is to increase the access of Lagos residents to quick, qualitative and effective health care services on waterways and riverine communities across the state,” the ministry said.
The boat clinic is said to be furnished with four medical observation beds, a medium sterilisation unit, an o2 bottle, a gauge, an infusion stand, a foldable stretcher, and a fully equipped first aid box.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, who spoke at the launch and inspection of the floating clinic boat, stated that the main aim of the clinic boat is to assist in providing emergency first aid and basic healthcare services to areas only accessible by water.
Ogboye said, “The Floating Clinic is mainly to deal with emergencies on the waterways and provide outreach services to riverine communities. This is part of the initiative by the Ministry of Health to ensure that we extend our medical and ambulance service to the waterways, remote riverine communities, and areas that can only be accessed by water.
“This is also an example of partnership between different agencies of government. The boat actually belongs to LASWA but will be operated by the Ministry of Health,” he said.
Ogboye further revealed that the clinic boat will be used for the current measles and COVID vaccination campaign in riverine communities and water ways across Lagos State.
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