A senior police officer has praised the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Ambulance Service after it responded to a distress call and rescued a man who collapsed and started convulsing along Ikot Ekpene Road in Uyo.
The officer, Odiko Macdon, is a Chief Superintendent of Police and Divisional Police Officer of ‘A’ Division, Uyo. He said that many people watched from a distance because they thought the man had epilepsy and were scared the condition might be contagious.
Mr Macdon, who used to be the police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom State, shared the story in a Facebook post on Sunday. He described how he was driving home on Saturday night when he saw the man lying near Kilimanjaro Restaurant on Ikot Ekpene Road.
“I saw the unknown young man jerking profusely, foaming at the mouth.”
He noted that even though a crowd had gathered, no one was willing to help. “No one dared touch him; the fear was that he had epilepsy, and that epilepsy was contagious!”
Epilepsy is not contagious. Medical experts say that during a seizure, a person should be protected from injury while waiting for medical help.
Mr Macdon said he and another passerby rushed to a nearby pharmacy for assistance. They also asked people in the crowd for the emergency ambulance hotline number. After getting the number, he called the ambulance service and was told that help was on the way.
As the victim kept convulsing, Mr Macdon worried that help might arrive too late. “I remember telling those around that the ambulance was coming, but what if they don’t come? Or come on time? What if this guy dies before their arrival? Both fear and faith took hold of me, but I wasn’t going anywhere.”
About 15 minutes later, the ambulance arrived.
“My excitement knew no bounds when, in about fifteen minutes, the ambulance arrived! Truly, this service and the health sector are working.”
A video with Mr Macdon’s Facebook post showed emergency health workers putting the unconscious man on a stretcher before taking him into a waiting ambulance.
Mr Macdon also thanked another passerby, photographer Uko Akpan, for helping the victim despite others' fears.
“He never considered the contagious supposition nor the consequences thereof (if any),” said the officer, who urged everyone to show compassion to people in distress.
“We just need to be our brother’s keeper to make the world a better place.”
This incident comes as the Akwa Ibom State Government is working to improve emergency medical services across the state.
In an interview published by BusinessDay Newspaper in February, the Commissioner for Health, Ekem John, said the Akwa Ibom Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System, launched on 1 March 2025, attended to 2,500 emergencies within its first 10 months of operation. Of those cases, 1,799 patients were stabilized at the scene while 708 were taken to hospitals for further treatment.
Mr John mentioned that the state has 31 ambulances across its 31 local government areas, allowing emergency teams to respond faster to distress calls.
According to him, ambulance response times have improved from an initial target of 30 minutes to between seven and 13 minutes. The government is now aiming for a response time of five to 20 minutes as it expands the service.
Mr Macdon’s account that the ambulance arrived in about 15 minutes shows the response time the state is trying to keep.
The Commissioner also noted that around 170,000 residents have signed up for the state’s health insurance scheme. This scheme covers consultations, surgeries, maternal healthcare, and referrals, helping residents access affordable healthcare.
Mr Macdon encouraged residents to save the state’s emergency ambulance number. He emphasized that quick access to emergency responders could save lives during medical emergencies.
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