NEMSAS, Delta partner on emergency services for children, pregnant women

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

The National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) has strengthened its partnership with the Delta State government to implement a robust and efficient Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transport (RESMAT) initiative for pregnant women and children in rural communities.

NEMSAS said the intervention will mitigate unnecessary delays observed by pregnant women who experience obstetric emergencies, adding that integral to the initiative would be the provision of tricycle and boat ambulances, as well as the necessary technology to ensure timely, effective, and efficient Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for the targeted demography.

A statement from the Federal Ministry of Health indicated that the Head of Operations, NEMSAS, Dr. Emuren Doubra and his team, made this known when they visited the Secretary to Delta State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, in Asaba, Delta State.

Dr. Doubra, in his remarks, highlighted the vision of the Federal Government as regards the establishment of a sustainable EMS system for addressing unnecessary mortalities arising from a gap in emergency medical services, especially for rural dwellers, and the positive impact the initiative wields for the people of Delta State.

He said that the lack of functional EMS and transport options had created a pressing need for targeted intervention and partnership at the state and local government levels to develop sustainable rural emergency service and maternal transport systems.

In his response, the Secretary to the State Government expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the laudable initiative and pledged the state government’s commitment to facilitating NEMSAS stakeholder engagement in the state.

The NEMSAS team also visited the Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, where strategies and activities were discussed and contextualised to match the topography, sociocultural, and organisational peculiarities in the state.

The Commissioner said that Delta State has a robust EMS structure, which is currently being aligned to NEMSAS standards with a functional communication architecture and human resources capable of operating the system.

Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Health, Dr. Philomena Okeowo, also provided guidance to discussions around collaboration and fast-tracking the state to roll out the RESMAT initiative.

NEMSAS was established as a programme for coordinating emergency medical services in Nigeria and has over the years established EMS governance and operational structures across Nigeria.

Albeit, access and utilisation of EMS services have remained low, while populations in rural areas continue to experience limitations in access to quality and timely emergency medical services.

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