Thirty new, fully equipped ambulances are being delivered to 12 countries across West Africa as part of an initiative to strengthen emergency healthcare services and improve access to essential medical care.
Procured by UNOPS with funding from the West African Health Organisation, the ambulances are being distributed to Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
The new emergency vehicles will help health systems respond more effectively to medical emergencies while bringing vital healthcare services closer to communities. The initiative is also expected to support progress towards universal health coverage across the region.
To ensure healthcare teams can make effective use of the new vehicles, UNOPS organized a three-day training programme for representatives from the 12 participating ECOWAS member states in collaboration with the Togolese Red Cross.
The training combined theoretical sessions with practical exercises, giving participants essential technical knowledge on ambulance operations and the use of onboard medical equipment.
The delivery of these fully equipped ambulances and investment in specialized training represent an important step in strengthening emergency response capacities across West Africa. By improving emergency transport and supporting frontline healthcare workers, the initiative aims to make timely and quality healthcare more accessible to communities throughout the region.
