Rescue and Support the Helpless Foundation (RESH Foundation), in partnership with the OPM Foundation, has launched a free ambulance service in Rivers State to aid accident victims and reduce preventable deaths caused by delayed emergency response.

The service was unveiled on Wednesday in Port Harcourt. Speaking during the launch, the Chairman of RESH Foundation, HRM King Apostle Dr. Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, said the initiative was driven by the urgent need to save lives, particularly those of accident victims who are often left unattended.

“Due to the rate at which accident victims are abandoned on the road, especially in hit-and-run cases, I decided to launch this free ambulance,” he said. Dr. Chinyere noted that many victims die not from the impact of the accident alone, but from the absence of swift emergency response.

He added that delays in ambulance services, coupled with inadequate medical facilities, continue to worsen outcomes for accident victims. “Good Samaritans are often afraid to assist because they fear being held responsible if the victim dies,” he explained.

To address these challenges, Dr. Chinyere announced that RESH Foundation has finalized plans to remit funds monthly to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). The funds will cover first aid treatment for accident victims brought in through the new service.

“RESH Foundation will pay for the initial treatment to stabilize the victim before contacting the family to take over from there,” he said.

He also introduced a simple reporting method for the public. Anyone who spots an abandoned accident victim in Rivers State is encouraged to record a short selfie video stating their name, location, and the date, and send it to the dedicated line 08033385271. An ambulance driver will immediately be dispatched to convey the victim to UPTH. The service is entirely free.

RESH Foundation is a Nigerian-based non-governmental organization focused on improving lives through locally driven, impactful solutions—especially for vulnerable populations in rural, urban, and hard-to-reach communities.