The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) has disclosed that plans are underway to implement and prioritise the Rural Ambulance and Maternal Transport system to cater for medical emergencies in the rural communities
The National Programme Manager of NEMSAS, Dr Saidu Ahmed Dumbulwa, while briefing the press on Monday on the NEMSAS alignment with the sector-wide approach programme of the National Health Sector Renewal Investment programme to implement Rural Ambulance and Medical transport service in rural communities in Nigeria, said, transportation barriers to healthcare are significant and have far-reaching implications regarding the health of the rural populations in Nigeria.
He added that the RESMAT will strengthen NEMSAS in the implementation of its overall vision for coordinating Emergency Medical Services(EMS) systems by extending coverage to include the last mile in rural areas.
He said, that as NEMSAS began its operations in October 2021 in FCT with Yobe and Anambra states respectively, Plateau and Bauchi states were equally granted approval to commence operations following assessment and onboarding
“Before the end of the next quarter, we will roll out operations in Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Kano and Sokoto states.
“The Government of Nigeria has undertaken various assessments for defining strategic needs and investment in Emergency medical services, with the intent of bringing pre-hospital care and In-hospital emergency care under one umbrella in a bid to ensure the most at-risk populations are given medical emergency care and medical transport for pregnant women at no cost to the patients and clients.
“As NEMSAS aligned to improving emergency care service delivery in Nigeria, NEMSAS is implementing strategic partnerships with the FRSC for EMS services on Federal highways and adjoining rural communities; partnership with NCC for the provision of services for the communication infrastructure to deliver the toll-free 112 number to designated emergency call centres.
“NEMSAS has also brought on board the private sector providers; Private Hospital services and Private ambulance service providers to ensure the sustainability of the programme in a way of unlocking private sector potential as a government-owned programme driven by the private sector to save lives and create jobs.”
The Coordinator also called for the stakeholders’ collaboration to save lives saying, “Looking ahead, we must consider how we can strengthen our efforts to impact more lives in a sustainable way.
“All inclusive of the public and private sector for effective and efficient Rural Emergency Medical Transport and Ambulance services.
“This will serve as the bridge connecting stakeholders, when we unite under a shared vision, the ripple effect of such collaborations can be monumental with positive outcomes that translate to saving more lives.
“As you may be aware health is a priority of the FGN agenda and in line with the National Health Act of 2014 which states, that 5% of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund of the 1% CRF shall be used for Emergency Medical Treatment.
“Pursuant to this provision, the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC) approved a novel concept in national health service delivery constituted to address the missing link in the health sector known as National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS).
“Emergency care is an essential element of universal health coverage, responding to a range of acute conditions in children and adults, including injuries, infections, acute exacerbations of non-communicable diseases, and complications of pregnancy.
“Every year in Nigeria we have about Nine million pregnancies with an estimated 9% developing complications mostly in the rural areas.
“EMS thus involves a continuum of pre-hospital and in-hospital care and the linkages between these components, to ensure that emergency medical care is available when and where it is required, irrespective of ability to pay.
“Delay in service provision, most often due to payment, is the cause of many instances of permanent disability and death; on-the-spot payment is very inefficient and mostly claims the lives of poor and downtrodden Nigerians that cannot afford to transport themselves and pay for services at a point of care. The NEMSAS services provide services at a point of care within the first 48 hours at no cost to the patient.
“The Nigeria Health sector renewal investment programme of the FGN through the sector-wide approach programme prioritises the Rural Ambulance and Maternal Transport.
“This followed the fact that the burden of disease can potentially be addressed by prehospital and emergency care in rural settings and hard-to-reach areas, thereby reducing the maternal deaths occurring in Nigeria.
“Implementing prehospital and emergency care to address the main causes of morbidity and premature mortality in Nigeria would advance the frontiers of UHC and lead to better health outcomes,” he said
