The initiative emerged from an inter-agency assembly convened by the Edo State Healthcare Regulation and Monitoring Agency (EDOHERMA) and the Edo State Emergency Management Agency (EDOSEMA) in Benin City on October 13, 2026.
The Chief Executive Officer of EDOHERMA, Dr. Adesuwa Urhoghide-Edigin, stated the state wanted stronger emergency planning, safer healthcare amenities, strategically positioned ambulances and purposeful referral methods to minimise casualties throughout disasters.
She disclosed that the company had developed a Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Manual for healthcare amenities, which might be circulated to stakeholders for overview and contributions.
Urhoghide-Edigin stated the state additionally wanted acceptable insurance policies to handle gaps in emergency preparedness, ambulance operations, mass gathering security and inter-agency coordination.
She referred to as for advance notification of public occasions and threat assessments masking venue security, anticipated attendance, emergency exits, safety and medical assist, stressing that stopping emergencies was as necessary as responding to them.
The govt secretary of EDOSEMA, Jerry Idahosa, stated catastrophe administration required collective motion by authorities businesses, emergency responders and communities, including that no single company might successfully handle disasters alone.
He urged stakeholders to strengthen hazard mapping, public consciousness campaigns, early-warning methods and preparedness actions throughout the state’s 18 native authorities areas.
Idahosa additionally confused the necessity for organisers to inform emergency businesses forward of public occasions to allow correct threat evaluation and deployment of personnel and tools.
He stated the supply of ambulances alone was inadequate with out enough tools and educated paramedics able to offering rapid lifesaving interventions.
Similarly, the director-general of the Edo State Fire Service, Engr. Osayande Owens, referred to as for better emphasis on hearth prevention, public sensitisation and coordinated rescue operations.
He stated the Fire Service remained dedicated to responding to emergencies and recommended EDOHERMA for its collaboration with the service on hearth security certification for healthcare amenities.
The Edo State Emergency Medical Services coordinator and EDOHERMA’s Director of Emergency Services highlighted the necessity for purposeful ambulances, educated personnel, well timed affected person evacuation and efficient communication between emergency responders and receiving hospitals.
The EDOHERMA official additionally offered a referral-system template designed to enhance coordination between healthcare amenities.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Red Cross Society’s Edo State coordinator, Ekhomogiazin Wilson, referred to as for sustained engagement, volunteer coaching and stronger cooperation amongst humanitarian organisations and authorities businesses.
The managing director of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency, Engr. Stainless Ijegede, stated accessible roads, efficient site visitors administration, common emergency drills and public enlightenment have been needed to cut back delays throughout emergencies.
At the tip of the assembly, stakeholders agreed to nominate company representatives for Edo South, Edo Central and Edo North and scheduled a follow-up assembly to advance plans for a coordinated emergency communication system.
