Federal Government has introduced the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), alongside a free medication programme, to strengthen emergency healthcare delivery across the country.
The National Programme Manager of NEMSAS, Dr. Doubra Emuren, disclosed this through the Head of Claims Management, Alhaji Nasiru Nuhu Yakubu, during a briefing in Zaria.
The NEMSAS programme is domiciled under the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and is designed to save lives by ensuring prompt medical intervention within the first 48 hours of emergencies.
Alhaji Nasiru Yakubu explained that the initiative focuses on rapid response to accidents and critical medical emergencies, with special attention given to pregnant women facing life-threatening conditions, as part of efforts to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria.
He outlined ten mandate areas covered by the programme, including emergencies involving pregnant women, children under five, snakebite victims, victims of banditry, road traffic accidents, flooding and fire outbreaks, building collapses, communal clashes, and cases of weapon-related violence and thuggery.
According to him, the programme operates under two categories: urban emergency ambulance services and rural emergency and maternal transport services.
He noted that tricycle ambulances, popularly known as Keke Napep, will be deployed in rural areas to access hard-to-reach communities and provide life-saving services.
Alhaji Yakubu stressed the importance of support from traditional and religious leaders, philanthropists and other stakeholders to ensure the success of the programme and improve emergency healthcare delivery nationwide.
He added that NEMSAS is partnering with federal teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, as well as state and local government health facilities to ensure swift and effective emergency response across the country.
Under the programme, transport tariffs are fixed at ₦50,000 per trip for Advanced Life Support ambulances, ₦35,000 per trip for Basic Life Support ambulances, and ₦10,000 per trip for tricycle ambulances.
Emergency contact numbers have been made available through the Ministry of Health, general hospitals and selected private hospitals to kick-start the pilot phase of the programme.
Alhaji Yakubu also called on private sector organisations and individuals to invest in ambulances to benefit from the initiative.
Kaduna State Government, under the administration of Governor Uba Sani, is among the states that launched the programme on October 2 last year.
COV/Jibrin, Zaria
