TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROMPT EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICES VIA TOLL FREE NUMBERS FOR QUICK RESPONSE ..... NEMTC TO NIGERIANS

NEMSAS Emergency Medical Services

"The lack of awareness in several communities in the country about the presence of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Services and the availability of its emergency services, particularly its toll free numbers to prompt quick responses has been identified as challenge that needs to be addressed." Dr Ismaila Jubrin.

The commitment of the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare under the leadership of the Honourable Minister, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate at improving the country’s current distressing statistics, has received commendation from a large section of stakeholders in the health sector.

According to the Chairman of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee NEMTC, Dr Ismaila Jubrin, Nigerians need to take advantage of the available emergency medical treatment opportunities at their doorsteps via prompt toll free numbers that will offer them emergency ambulance services.

“We will set up a meet with representatives from the World Bank to discuss the implementation plan for the ResSmart program in Nigeria”. He stated.

Dr Ismaila Jubrin
Chairman NEMTC 

Emphasizing on collaboration, Dr. Jibrin stressed that, “Collaboration with partners under the National Emergency Medical Teams will be explored together with the ratification of approved Memoranda of Cooperation (MOC) under the NEMTC gateway”.

He however pointed out that, the lack of awareness in several communities in the country about the presence of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Services and the availability of its emergency services, particularly its toll free numbers to prompt quick responses has been identified as challenge that needs to be addressed.

Dr. Jibrin who made this known at a recent two-day retreat for members of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC), disclosed that most community residents are yet to understand that it is more faster to make use of these emergency services than dragging someone into a taxi to a hospital. 

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the two-day retreat which held at the Johnwood Hotels in Abuja, on Thursday, Dr. Jubrin placed emphasis on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed, to ensure the smooth implementation of rural emergency medical services, ambulance services, and maternal transportation in all states, either as pilot projects or at full scale.

Dr. Jubrin disclosed that the signing of the MOU was in a bid to ensure that all the states that have rolled out will commence the rural emergency medical services with the aim of harnessing the potentials in the World Bank Project, which is also a part of government’s effort to reduce hyperpregmentation of activities in the country.

In his response to questions, Co-Chairman of NEMTC, Professor Seyeifa Brisibe said challenges faced by the Committee are exacerbating in the southern region, hindrances like water-locked communities that have forced an alternate means of transportation.

Professor Brisibe noted that, “Diverse challenges, encompassing inadequate road networks in (Nigeria’s) northern region are crucial considerations”.

He further stressed further that, “It is imperative that we address these challenges comprehensively, which is the primary objective of this retreat to overcome these obstacles to establish a robust and resilient national emergency medical treatment system through the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) to safeguard every life”.

The Co-Chairman of the NEMTC also talked of the importance of strengthening the referral systems, while highlighting the benefits it would bring to the country.

In his reaction to questions, National Programme Manager of NEMSAS, Dr. Saidu Ahmed Dumbulwa listed the strategies employed to expand these services to all the states of the country. He disclosed that this will be preceded by assessments to ensure that the required standards are met.  

He said; “The process involves states showing commitments to implementing these services and subsequently, they will be encouraged to initiate pilot schemes in selected local governments before expanding further”, he posited.

The objectives of the retreat, according to him, borders on the ratification of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) gateway guidelines, the identification of key indicators for EMT gateway pillars, and the delineation of the scope of the EMT gateway.

He enumerated the roles and responsibilities of EMT gateway structures, namely; NEMTC, NEMSAS, SEMTC, and SEMSAS, which will be clarified.

Dr Saidu Ahmed Dumbulwa

Speaking on the activities of NEMSAS in Yobe state, Dr Saidu Ahmed Dumbulwa, National Programme Manager of NEMSAS and Secretary of the NEMTC, called on other states to emulate the performance of the Yobe state Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System, YEMSAS from its report earlier provided by the its Executive Secretary, Dr Abdullahi Ali that has so far, saved over 1000 lives through the adoption of its emergency services.

Dr Dumbulwa stressed that, if YEMSAS can save over a 1000 lives, other states and the FCT can replicate this and in so doing, Nigeria would be saving over 36,000 lives or more.