The Federal Government has called on stakeholders in the health sector to work toward ensuring well-coordinated, effective, and efficient emergency medical services.
The FG made the call during the stakeholders’ meeting organised by the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) and the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee, in Kano.
A press statement signed by the Deputy Director, Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, Ahmadu Chindaya, said the stakeholders’ meeting is part of the collective efforts put in place by the ministry of health to ensure the smooth take-off of NEMSAS and proposed national launch of the programme by President Muhammadu Buhari at a later date.
According to the statement, “So far, six states have shown their readiness and interest to kick-start the programme in their respective states, namely, Yobe, Kano, Rivers, Sokoto, Ekiti, and Anambra states.
“The two-day stakeholders meeting which was approved by the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, and supported by the World Health Organisation was coordinated by the National Programme Manager, NEMSAS, Dr Saidu Dambulwa.”
The statement also noted that the meeting was attended by the representative of the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Kano State, Dr Nasir Kabo, the Director-General, Hospital Management Board, Kano State; the Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Prof. Chris Bode; the Chairman Committee of Medical Directors/Chief Medical Directors Federal Tertiary Hospitals, represented by Dr Suleiman Bello; among others.
“Dr Dambulwa, the National Programme Manager, NEMSAS, presented the LEAD paper during the meeting.
“According to him, missing links exist at all levels of tertiary, secondary, and primary levels of the Nigerian health sector under the emergency health cases. When an emergency occurs, transporting the victim to the nearby health facility as well as who pays the medical bill always constitutes the missing links.
“When NEMTC and NEMSAS are fully operationalised, not only the missing link will be taken care of, but health care delivery in Nigeria will become more affordable,” the statement added.
Recall that the Federal Ministry of Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the private sector and other stakeholders for the operationalisation of NEMSAS.
