In a groundbreaking move to strengthen student welfare and emergency response, the Norman Nortey-led SRC Administration at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) is set to launch the 24-Hour Health Emergency SRC-Bolt Services in the first week of May 2025.
This bold initiative comes in response to a growing and urgent challenge confronting UCC students particularly those living in the diaspora. Due to an acute deficit in on-campus accommodation, many students reside in off-campus hostels scattered across distant neighborhoods. While this arrangement supports enrollment, it presents a hidden risk: students face grave difficulty accessing urgent medical attention at night. The situation is further compounded when ambulance services are unavailable or delayed, placing lives at risk during critical health emergencies.
The 24-Hour Health Emergency SRC-Bolt Service is a student-centered emergency transport initiative that aims to bridge this accessibility gap. Designed to complement the existing UCC ambulance system, the service will operate 24/7, with special emphasis on night-time emergencies those moments when help is hardest to find.
Through this initiative, students in distress can call designated SRC emergency hotlines. Upon verification of the situation, they will be transported swiftly and safely to the UCC Hospital free of charge. The service is being powered in partnership with vetted transport operators and volunteer drivers collectively known as SRC-Bolt whose commitment will ensure swift response and dependable care.
The initiative will:
• Operate round-the-clock, with particular attention to emergencies that occur after hours.
• Rely on a dedicated SRC emergency hotline system.
• Provide fast, verified transport to the UCC Hospital.
• Be fully free to students in distress.
• Involve trusted, trained transport personnel vetted by the SRC.
With this new service, the SRC expects a dramatic improvement in emergency health response for off-campus students. Risks associated with delays in receiving medical care, especially during late hours will be significantly reduced. Moreover, the initiative is set to strengthen the health and welfare support system under the SRC’s portfolio.
“The 24-Hour Health Emergency SRC-Bolt Service is not just a transport initiative, it is a commitment,” said Abraham Norman Nortey, SRC President. “It is our way of saying that student welfare does not clock out. We believe that where a student lives should not determine whether they receive timely medical attention.”
As the SRC prepares to roll out this service in May 2025, one thing is clear: the administration is not just responding to a problem, it is redefining what student leadership and care look like in real-time emergencies.
