Assessment of the Challenges of Emergency Medical Response in Edo State Health Care Delivery
Abstract:
This article critically evaluates the challenges of
Emergency Medical Services/Response within the Edo State healthcare system. The
research is premised on the need for an effective Emergency Medical Response
call centre and number. Despite the recent launch of an EMR
service, public awareness of the existence of a call centre and its number
remains unclear, highlighting the need for urgent action. The purpose of this
research is to determine the presence of EMS response centres in the study area
and also assess public awareness of a designated emergency call number in Edo
State. The methodology employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches,
using semi-structured questionnaires and in-depth key interviews. Five hundred
and twenty-four respondents participated in the research. The study area
encompassed the three senatorial districts of Edo State. A multistage sampling
technique was applied, and SPSS was ultilized for data analysis. The
results and challenges elicited are concerning and entail the following: the
absence of an identifiable EMR call centre in the study area, as about
four-fifths of the respondents stated they had no knowledge of any EMR team in
their locality, and the unawareness of any designated medical emergency phone
number; scarce availability of ambulance services and Automated External
Defibrillators in the study communities, as over four-fifths of the respondents
indicated a non availability of EMR ambulances. Therefore, the Government
urgently needs to set up one EMS/ Response centre in every local Government and
carry out mass sensitization to encourage use.
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