How 112 Emergency Service, General Hospital Saved Lagos Family’s Seven-Month-Old Baby
A Lagos resident, Muhammad Armayau, has praised the Lagos State emergency response system after officials swiftly responded to a medical emergency involving his seven-month-old daughter during a heavy downpour in Badagry.
Armayau, who spoke with journalists on Monday, said his infant daughter suddenly developed a high fever in the middle of the night after battling an elevated temperature for two days.
According to him, the baby’s temperature rose to 38.5°C, leaving the family stranded as heavy rainfall made it impossible to find transportation to a hospital.
He said he and his wife tried to reduce the fever by gently wiping the child with a wet towel before contacting the Lagos State emergency toll-free line, 112, at about 4:07 a.m.
Armayau explained that the emergency response officer immediately requested his address and a nearby landmark after hearing the baby crying over the phone.
About 20 minutes later, the emergency call centre called back to confirm that an ambulance had been dispatched to the area.
He said another call came around 5:07 a.m. to inform him that the ambulance was waiting at Checkpoint Bus Stop after the rain had subsided. The family then rode on a motorcycle to meet the medical team.
After assessing the child’s condition, the ambulance personnel transported the baby to General Hospital, Badagry, noting that the nearest Primary Health Centre at Ilepo does not operate 24 hours a day.
Armayau explained that the ambulance could not reach his home because the Ibiye–Checkpoint–Magbon Road had become inaccessible following the heavy rainfall.
He described the response as exceptional, noting that the ambulance travelled about 24 kilometres from General Hospital, Badagry, to attend to the emergency.
At the hospital, he said the baby received immediate medical attention. According to him, 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.
He added that the total bill would have been just ₦1,400 if the family’s Lagos State Health Insurance coverage had still been active.
Armayau noted that there were no consultation or ambulance charges, describing the experience as evidence that government-funded public services can deliver quality healthcare to residents.
He also commended the cleanliness of General Hospital, Badagry, and praised the professionalism and dedication of the medical personnel on duty.
While expressing gratitude to the Lagos State Emergency Response Team and healthcare workers, Armayau appealed to the state government to rehabilitate the Ibiye–Checkpoint–Magbon Road, recruit more doctors for General Hospital, Badagry, upgrade the Ilepo Primary Health Centre to a 24-hour facility, improve electricity supply in the community and implement a unified electronic medical records system across government hospitals.
He also acknowledged ongoing infrastructure projects in Badagry, noting that improved road networks play a vital role in enhancing emergency response and saving lives.
