NEMSAS, Delta State Govt In Collaboration. .... To Implement Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transport (RESMAT) Initiative for Pregnant Women and Children in Rural Communities

(L- R) Dr Chris Iwegbu, Danladi Adama Mohd, Siahnom Read Ruth, Honourable Commissioner for Health Delta State (Dr Joseph Onojaeme), Permanent Secretary (Dr Philomena Okeowo), Dr. Emuren Doubra- (Head of Operations NEMSAS) and Mr Eloho - SA to SSG Delta State

"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's (GCFR), administration is accelerating the country’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) program championed by the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof Muhammed Ali Pate."

In actualizing the vision of the Federal government in ensuring quality healthcare for Nigerians at all levels, the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) is collaborating with the Delta State Government to implement a Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transport (RESMAT) initiative for Pregnant Women and Children in rural communities

Despite the Federal Government’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), significant disparities remain in healthcare access especially in rural areas. 

This gap is most pronounced in maternal and child health emergency services, where rural areas suffer disproportionately high rates of maternal and infant mortalities especially in accessing timely emergency medical interventions. 

NEMSAS Team with DELTA 
SEMSAS

The lack of functional emergency medical services (EMS) and transport options exacerbates these issues, creating 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.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) has collaborated with the Delta State Government to implement a Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transport (RESMAT) initiative for Pregnant Women and Children in rural communities.

It is pertinent to note that, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's (GCFR), administration is accelerating the country’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) program championed by the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof Muhammed Ali Pate. As an initiative complementary to the NHSRII, NEMSAS will implement Rural Emergency Service to mitigate delays observed by pregnant women who experience obstetric emergencies integral to this initiative would be the provision of tricycle and boat ambulances as well as the necessary technology to ensure timely, effective and efficient emergency medical service for this demographic.

The Head of Operations, NEMSAS Dr Emuren Doubra and his team, made this known while on a courtesy visit to the Delta State Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu in Delta State. Dr. Emu highlighted the vision of the Federal Government as regards the establishment of a sustainable system for addressing mortalities arising from a gap of emergency medical services especially for rural dwellers and the positive impact this initiative wields for the people of Delta state. The SSG expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for this laudable initiative and pledged the States commitment to facilitating NEMSAS stakeholder engagement in the State. 

Earlier, the NEMSAS team, visited the Delta State Ministry of Health under the leadership of the Honourable Commissioner for Health Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, where strategies and activities were discussed and contextualized to match the topography, socio-cultural and organizational peculiarity in the State. Delta State has a robust EMS structure, which is currently being align to NEMSAS standards with a functional communication architecture and human resource capable of operating the system. 

The 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. 

The National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (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 utilization of EMS services have remained low, while populations in rural areas continue to experience limitation in access quality and timely Emergency Medical Services