ODEMSA: Home grown concept with global relevance

The Ondo State Emergency Medical Services Agency (ODEMSA) was established in March, 2010 with the mandate to respond promptly and rescue Road Traffic Accident Victims across the highways in the State. The goals of the Agency include:

>. rescuing of accident victims not later than 15 minutes from the time of the accident,

>. to coordinate all medical and other emergency services in the state,

>. to provide pre-hospital care for accident victims,

>. to reduce the number of preventable trauma related Road accident deaths on the highways,

>. to reduce the number of preventable morbidities from Road Traffic Accident and related injuries on the highways,

>. and to respond to all distress calls arising from traffic or any other accident.

It is crucial to note that Ondo State is one of the few States in the Federation to have such a robust establishment to rescue and manage road accident victims. The Agency has five (5) Base Stations (Ambulance Stations) which are strategically located at the accident prone areas of the State. Each Base Station can boast of an Ambulance, Extricating vehicle, Towing vehicle as well as trained rescue personnel.