Some general hospitals in Benue state have had their services boosted as government has distributed   five ambulances on zonal basis to aid their activities and performance.

However, hospital administrators have been warned against converting the ambulances to other uses,   outside the purpose they have been purchased for the hospitals.

The governor Chief Gabriel Suswam who recently donated the ambulances recalled that he had promised during his electioneering campaigns to improve health care delivery, adding that every sector of the economy would be impacted upon during his tenure as governor.

He said, “These ambulances should be properly maintained and I want to say that they must not be used outside the purpose for which they are meant for. They are strictly for the hospitals and not for anything personal”.

State Health commissioner, Dr Jarius Erube disclosed to reporters that the state government decided to use zoning in determining where the ambulances should be sent, pointing out that one was for zone A, B, C.

He explained that the Makurdi General hospital will also have one ambulance and noted that Oju local government in Igede land, was given special consideration because of the distance to Otukpo which is also in zone C.

The commissioner said the ambulances are equipped with oxygen cylinders, stretchers and other medical gadgets that are normally fitted to such vehicles to facilitate the duties of the doctors while conveying patients to the hospitals.