Lagos Emergency Services Save Infant During Heavy Rainstorm

A Lagos resident has lauded the state's emergency responders for their life-saving intervention after his 7-month-old daughter became critically ill during a severe downpour. Muhammad Armayau recounted the harrowing experience, stating that his infant developed a high fever in the middle of the night, leaving his family stranded without transport to a hospital.

With the rain making roads impassable, Armayau contacted the Lagos State emergency toll-free line, 112, at approximately 4:07 a.m. An emergency response officer quickly gathered the necessary details, including the family's location, while the baby's cries could be heard in the background. Within 20 minutes, the Lagos Emergency Response Call Centre confirmed an ambulance had been dispatched.

By 5:07 a.m., as the rain subsided, the ambulance crew met the family at Checkpoint Bus Stop. Due to the condition of the Ibiye–Checkpoint–Magbon road, the ambulance could not reach their residence. Medical personnel assessed the baby and recommended immediate transfer to General Hospital, Badagry, as the nearest primary health center did not operate 24 hours. The ambulance traveled approximately 24 kilometers from the general hospital to reach the family.

At the hospital, the child received prompt treatment. Armayau noted the costs incurred for a patient file, laboratory tests, and medication, mentioning that his health insurance would have significantly reduced the total. He expressed gratitude for the absence of consultation or ambulance charges, praising the cleanliness of the hospital and the dedication of the healthcare workers. However, he appealed to the state government to rehabilitate the access road and enhance healthcare services at local facilities.

“

My seven-month-old daughter developed a high fever after battling an elevated temperature for two days. When the thermometer read 38.5°C, panic set in. With heavy rain falling and no means of transportation, my wife and I tried to bring the fever down by gently wiping the baby with a wet towel while waiting for the rain to subside.