FG Expands Emergency Medical Services to Address Health Challenges In response to Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate, where the country accounts for one in every four global maternal deaths, the Federal government has inaugurated the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC).
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the move signals reaffirmation of the governments commitment to improving health outcomes by addressing critical components of the sector and enhancing emergency medical response and healthcare accessibility, particularly for vulnerable populations.
According to him, it is the commitment that has driven key initiatives aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality while strengthening the country’s emergency medical infrastructure.
This was disclosed by the Minister in broadcast on the Ministry’s microblogging platform, X, where he empathized that the NEMTC initiative focuses on expanding health insurance coverage through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and removing barriers to standard urgent and ambulatory care.
He noted that before the inception of NEMTC, the government recognized the lack of a widespread and efficient emergency response system and in response, it launched the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Scheme (NEMSAS), with a particular focus on providing emergency medical services in rural areas, where maternal mortality rates are highest.
To further address this challenge, he said the government established the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport program under NEMSAS.
However, according to him, to ensure accountability and efficiency, the NEMTC has been tasked with administering five percent of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Additionally, he said regular audited accounts and performance reports are to be submitted to a Ministerial Oversight Committee, chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health.
In collaboration with State governments, including Rivers, Bauchi, and Plateau, the NEMTC has midwived the operationalization of the State emergency medical and ambulance services.
He cited the Rivers State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System that has been integrated into the national framework to maintain standardized emergency care delivery.
Accordingly, he explained that the Nigerian government is also adopting innovative approaches to emergency response, utilizing tricycle ambulances, water ambulances, and traditional large ambulances.
“These critical partnerships for development expeditionally bridge the infrastructure and manpower gaps that exist between where we are presently in emergency service provision and where we must arrive to meet the emergency care needs of Africa’s fastest growing and largest vibrant population.
“Using tricycle ambulances, water ambulances, and traditional large ambulances, NEMSAS is evolving and implementing a new emergency notification process that proactively involves all parties to the response effort, from primary health care center at the ward level to the Local government’s Federal hospital using State emergency number rather than a centralized national emergency number of 112.
“In everything that we do, the President’s support for Nigerian families and his concern for the collective well-being of our people has further intensified our own focus on building an emergency response architecture that will accommodate the needs of every Nigerian irrespective of age, region, education, or social standard.This is the future of emergency care in Nigeria”.
