Lagos father hails emergency responders for saving 7-month-old daughter

By Adeola Ogunrinde

A Lagos resident, Muhammad Armayau, has commended the state’s emergency response agencies for their swift intervention in saving the life of his seven-month-old daughter after she suddenly fell critically ill during a heavy downpour in Badagry.

Speaking with journalists on Monday, Armayau recounted that the infant developed a high fever in the middle of the night after battling an elevated temperature for two days. He said the situation became more alarming when the child’s temperature rose to 38.5 degrees Celsius, while persistent rainfall and the absence of transportation made it impossible for the family to immediately reach a hospital.

According to him, he and his wife attempted to reduce the baby’s fever by gently wiping her body with a wet towel while waiting for the rain to subside. With the child’s condition worsening, he called the Lagos State Government’s toll-free emergency line, 112, at about 4:07 a.m. to seek urgent assistance.

Armayau said the emergency response officer promptly requested his address and a nearby landmark after hearing the baby crying in the background. About 20 minutes later, the Lagos Emergency Response Call Centre called back to confirm that an ambulance had been dispatched and discussed with him how the crew could locate the family despite the darkness.

He explained that by 5:07 a.m., after the rain had eased, another call informed him that the ambulance was waiting at Checkpoint Bus Stop. The family then rode on a motorcycle to the location, where the ambulance team was already waiting to transport the baby to General Hospital, Badagry.

Although the ambulance could not access his residence because of the poor condition of the Ibiye-Checkpoint-Magbon road, Armayau described the response as exceptional, noting that the ambulance travelled about 24 kilometres from General Hospital, Badagry, to attend to the emergency. He added that the child received immediate medical attention upon arrival at the hospital.

He disclosed that he paid ₦2,000 to open a patient file, ₦8,000 for laboratory tests, including a Full Blood Count and malaria test, and about ₦4,000 for prescribed medication. According to him, the total cost would have been just ₦1,400 if the family’s Lagos State Health Insurance coverage had still been active. He also noted that there were no consultation or ambulance charges, describing the experience as evidence that taxpayer-funded public services can effectively serve residents. Armayau further praised the cleanliness of General Hospital, Badagry, and the commitment of its healthcare workers.

While expressing gratitude to the emergency responders and medical personnel, Armayau urged the Lagos State Government to rehabilitate the Ibiye-Checkpoint-Magbon road to improve emergency access. He also appealed for the recruitment of more doctors at General Hospital, Badagry, the upgrade of Ilepo Primary Health Centre to a 24-hour facility, improved electricity supply in the area, and the introduction of a unified electronic medical records system across government hospitals. He added that ongoing road rehabilitation projects in Badagry would further strengthen emergency response efforts and help save more lives.