Posted on: Thu 13-02-2025

Federal Government has explained that the motive behind expanding Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and ambulance networks is to ensure critical patients receive timely care.

It further revealed that the partnership with commercial transport operators, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has extended emergency transport services to areas where ambulances are scarce.

Statistics show that over 6,000 Nigerians received emergency medical services through the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) between January and December 2024.

NEMSAS National Programme Manager, Dr Saidu Dumbulwa, who disclosed this in Abuja, observed that security agencies are part of this network to ensure emergency responders operate safely in volatile regions.

He observed that in recognition of the urgency of reducing maternal and newborn mortality, NEMSAS has also prioritised rural emergency services and maternal transport initiatives, as well as decentralising transport models such as mobilises tricycles, boats, and commercial operators to serve as emergency responders in hard-to-reach areas.

Also, pregnant women receive transport vouchers to cover emergency transport costs and ensure financial constraints do not delay care. Saidu said that with support from the World Bank, the initiative has been implemented in 15 high-burden states, and reaching underserved communities.

He stated that the NEMSAS was established to close the critical gap in accessing healthcare services and ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of location or socioeconomic status, has timely access to emergency medical care.

Saidu stated that private sector involvement has been instrumental in expanding ambulance networks, digital emergency response systems, and workforce training.

He revealed that digital health platforms and emergency tech companies have introduced real-time ambulance tracking and optimising dispatch coordination. He noted that more than 40 per cent of Nigerians live in rural areas with limited access to healthcare, adding that Nigeria’s maternal mortality rates remain among the highest globally.

“The challenge is not about treatment but timely access to care. The three delays in healthcare highlight that reaching a facility in time is a leading cause of preventable deaths. In the past, pregnant women, accident victims, and critically ill patients had no reliable way to access emergency services. That is changing,” he said.

“While the foundation was laid in previous years, the present administration prioritised, expanded, and integrated it into Nigeria’s broader health sector reforms. With stronger political commitment, strategic investments, and a whole-of-government approach, NEMSAS is now a pillar of the health sector renewal investment initiative, strengthening emergency healthcare nationwide.”

Saidu explained that NEMSAS is a national, state-driven, community-anchored emergency medical system ensuring rapid response, timely transportation, and quality emergency care, as well as the operational arm of the emergency medical treatment gateway under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).

The initiative operates through a structured inter-agency framework, bringing together the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

While the FRSC responds to medical emergencies and road traffic accidents, the NEMA coordinates mass casualty events, the NPHCDA integrates emergency services into primary healthcare, and the NHIA ensures coverage for enrolled patients.

Saidu observed that at the tertiary level, hospitals serve as emergency medical hubs for specialised critical cases, and stressed that collaboration is central to NEMSAS’s success.

He explained that in Yobe, over 1,000 lives have been saved, with a mortality rate as low as 1.5 per cent among treated cases, adding that the free 48-hour emergency treatment window has removed financial barriers, and demonstrated focused leadership in improving health outcomes.

“This collaborative effort is saving lives. In Yobe, tricycle ambulances reach remote areas where standard vehicles cannot operate. In Anambra, private sector emergency response systems have enabled faster ambulance dispatch, improving survival rates. In Rivers, newly procured ambulances under the state emergency medical services system ensure families no longer have to watch loved ones die due to lack of emergency transport.

“At the federal level, tertiary hospitals have been onboarded as emergency medical hubs, providing life-saving interventions. This progress reflects the visionary leadership and strong commitment of the ministers, governors, local council chairmen, and state Commissioners of Health, whose collaboration and policy reforms have driven the evolving transformation.”

He said through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWaP), these efforts have ensured a structured framework for integrating emergency medical services into broader health reforms and further equipped hospitals for maternal emergencies.

“The government has removed financial barriers by covering caesarean section costs for poor and vulnerable women in both public and private facilities. MAMII also strengthens emergency obstetric care in hospitals and primary healthcare centres, providing midwives and nurses with specialised training.”

“Community health workers generate demand for skilled birth attendance, educate families on antenatal care, and guide pregnant women toward safe delivery options. By integrating these efforts with NEMSAS, the government is building a fully functional emergency response system that ensures timely, high-quality care,” he said.

Despite its successes, Saidu said NEMSAS faces limited public awareness as only 38 per cent of Nigerians know about the 112 toll-free number, while inconsistent state ownership has slowed adoption in some regions, requiring further advocacy and commitment.

“Infrastructure gaps, including poor roads and insufficient ambulances, continue to hinder rapid emergency response. Addressing these requires increased investment in human and material resources.

A renewed hope for health security is unfolding. Picture a Nigeria where emergency medical response is swift and universal, where no woman dies in childbirth due to lack of transport, and where accident victims receive immediate, life-saving intervention. This vision is fast becoming reality.

“NEMSAS is more than an emergency response system; it is a lifeline and a testament to the Renewed Hope Agenda in action. By strengthening health security, emergency response, and universal access to care, we are laying the foundation for a healthier, safer Nigeria,” he added.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

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