The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) have donated four fully-equipped ambulance boats to the Bayelsa State Government, further strengthening emergency healthcare response in the state’s remote and riverine communities.
This latest donation follows a previous provision of six ambulance boats last year by the same partners, reaffirming their ongoing commitment to improving healthcare access in hard-to-reach areas where transportation challenges often delay life-saving medical interventions.
Funded by GAVI and its global partners, the new ambulance boats come equipped with essential medical supplies, designed specifically for emergency care and the safe transport of patients. These boats are especially critical for pregnant women, newborns, and other vulnerable patients, helping ensure timely access to healthcare facilities.
In addition to the boats, UNICEF and GAVI also donated a 30kVA soundproof generator to the Bayelsa State Primary Healthcare Board, aimed at enhancing operational capacity in areas with unreliable power supply.
According to the organizations, the donation is part of a broader strategy to improve emergency medical services and support immunisation outreach efforts in underserved communities, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes and public health progress in Bayelsa.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the Government Jetty, Judith Leveillee, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria, highlighted the transformative impact of the ambulance boats in bridging the healthcare gap in riverine communities. She emphasized the role of innovation and strong partnerships in overcoming challenges in healthcare delivery.
“These ambulance boats are not just vehicles they are life-saving tools that ensure critical access to healthcare in some of the most remote parts of Bayelsa,” Leveillee said. She praised the collaboration between UNICEF, GAVI, and the Bayelsa State Government as a model of how strategic partnerships can drive meaningful improvements in healthcare infrastructure.
Leveillee also expressed gratitude to GAVI, the World Health Organization (WHO), and frontline health workers, acknowledging their dedication to strengthening health systems in the state. She revealed that between 800 and 900 health workers have been engaged under the project, and urged the state government to absorb them into the public healthcare workforce to sustain the gains made.
Receiving the donations on behalf of the state, Commissioner for Health, Seiyefa Brisibe, thanked UNICEF and its partners, describing the support as “lifesaving.” He pledged that the ambulance boats would be deployed effectively to ensure rapid medical evacuation for mothers and children in emergencies.
In his remarks, Appah Williams, Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Primary Healthcare Board, noted that the previous six ambulance boats were donated under the Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNICEF and GAVI.
The event marked another milestone in the collective effort to bridge the healthcare gap in Bayelsa’s rural communities, with all stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to sustained collaboration in improving health service delivery across the state.
