Pulse.ng : Kaduna is ready for emergency medical services, has facilities to onboard NEMSAS programme

By Sani Idris

Dr Saidu Dumbulwa, the National Programme Manager of
National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), has said that Kaduna State is certified to key into the programme and has the basic facilities to kickstart operations.

Dumbulwa said this while debriefing the Kaduna State Ministry of Health after a two-day onboarding exercise for the state's emergency medical services gateway.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that NEMSAS is a government initiative tasked with the responsibility of organising emergency medical services and pre-hospital and emergency care services in Nigeria and ensuring that the services have a sustainable and high-impact service element in Nigeria’s health system architecture.

The primary mission of the NEMSAS is to establish and operationalise emergency medical services, while concurrently coordinating all ambulance services across the nation.

Dumbulwa said that based on their accesments, the things needed in terms of communication and connection of the ambulance and emergency call centre were in place.

He however said the state which has its emergency management agency, needed an alignment so that is could be in line with the national so as to benefit maximumly.

"Kaduna State has the structures, the call centre, personnel, administrative structure and, tertiary hospitals in the state also have the basic required minimum criteria to be onboard and commence operations.

"Kaduna State is far ahead of many states that we visited. I am sure they are ready to start this program,"he said.

Dumbulwa who doubles as the Senior Technical Adviser to the Coordinating Minister of Health on Health and Social Welfare, added that if the state became beneficiary of the NEMSAS, it citizens could leverage a toll-free number to call ambulance to evacuate accident victims to nearby health facility.

On arrival, he said the patient would be received, admitted and receive medical care for the next 48 hours at no cost to the patient.

He explained that the cost will be reimbursed by the federal government through the NEMSAS.

He also explained that participation into the NEMSAS is private and public sector driven where only NHIA accredited health facilities can participate.

Dumbulwa equally said the ambulance could be either private or of the public sector, where the services have a defined tariff of 35,000 naira per trip for Basic Life Support Ambulance while the Advance Life Support Ambulance would be paid 50,000.

He also explained that the money for the service are not from the federal government's budget where cash disbursement could be contemplated.

He said the funds are from the federal government's revenue generation which one per cent is set aside for health care, adding that some portion the money for the health care is also allocated for NEMSAS program.

He emphasised that the NEMSAS, would stimulate the economy and create job and save the lives of the poor and vulnerable.

Before now, the programme manager said investment in the health sector was huge, however the indices of maternal and under five mortality which is not decreasing.

He said the NEMSAS would be a relief for cost of transportation and medical care for the people.

"This is why the federal government felt that it is important to address some of the issues by coming up with the NEMSAS to address maternal transport, first 48 hours medical care at no cost to the patient.

"Doing so, will change the narrative, by reducing maternal and child mortality in the country and save the lives of the poor and vulnerable who may experience medical emergency. Every Nigerian is at risk of medicine emergency,"he said.

Responding, the State's Commissioner of Health, Umma Ahmed, said the state has made significant investments in emergency medical services.

Ahmed, represented by the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Dr Zainab Abubakar, said they were eager to leverage the NEMSAS program to further improve the state's healthcare delivery.

Recognising the importance of emergency medical services in saving lives and reducing maternal and child mortality, Ahmed restated their committed to ensuring that the state's emergency management agency aligned with the national framework to maximize the benefits of the NEMSAS programme.

She also said the ministry would address the challenges that were pointed out so as to kick state the scheme in selected facilities as a pilot.

NAN reports that the team, assessed the secondary health facilities, Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, ABU teaching hospital, and some selected private health facilities in the state.

In attendance of the debriefing were the
State Emergency Medical Treatment Committee which included ABU teaching hospital, FRSC, the state emergency management agency, the Police, Army, Fire Service, NURTW, Nigerian medical association, among others.(NAN)