Mr. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Minister of Health, on Wednesday pledged government's commitment to ensure the establishment of an effective Emergency Medical Service (EMS) System in the country.

He said government had ordered the procurement of the first batch of 161 ambulances to support the National Ambulance Service (NAS).

Mr. Bagbin made the pledge when reviewing the graduation parade of the first batch of Emergency Medical Technicians-Advance Batch 1 in Accra.

The 120 technicians made up of 111 men and 9 women had been equipped with the necessary skills and professional training to enable them to offer emergency services to accident victims and sick persons at medical facilities.

Mr. Bagbin said the second batch of 50 ambulances that arrived in the country were being registered for deployment to the various ambulance centres, while the last batch of 61 was due to arrive next month to be deployed to the districts in the country.

“As part of the Better Ghana Agenda, the Ministry would endeavour to improve on emergency medical services to improve health care," he added.

Mr. Bagbin said that the ambulances required well trained paramedics to help manage emergency cases which could be handled while victims are being conveyed to the hospital since people’s lives depended on EMTs and NAS in the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

He said available data indicated that most people died due to delay of medical attention, saying,” The EMTs and paramedics would provide these services to people before reaching the hospital”.

Mr. Bagbin said plans were far advanced to expand the NAS to cover some district capitals where the graduates would be posted to.

He noted that the presence of NAS was significant, citing that victims of the recent Nigerian cargo plane crash were rescued by the NAS team that responded swiftly and professionally with a high degree of efficiency.

“Both natural and man-made disasters had served as a warning to all and sundry to see the extreme urgency of making cities and towns less vulnerable and more responsive to such calamities,” he said.

Ms Christiana Achena Boatemaah emerged the Overall Best Officer Cardet and won the Minister’s award.

Mr. Jonas Acquah was adjudged the Best Officer in Practicals while Mr. Wonder Kwabla Kponor emerged the Best Officer in Academics.**