1.7 million pregnant women to enjoy transport services – FG
Head of Management of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System, Nasir Yakubu addressing news men
The Federal Government has disclosed a move to provide free emergency transportation services to 1.7 million pregnant rural dwellers in the country.
The Head of Management of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System, Nasir Yakubu, stated this in Bauchi on Friday during the state’s stakeholder engagement for rural ambulance and transportation services implementation in the state.
He maintained that this would be achieved and carried out under the World Bank-assisted NEMSAS through the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System, SEMSAS, across the 15 selected impact project states by December 2025, with Bauchi being one of them.
According to Yakubu, “President Bola Tinubu’s drive in accelerating Nigeria towards achieving universal health coverage through last mile access to quality health care is envisaged to be actualized through a sector-wide approach program.
“This program is themed on Nigeria’s health sector renewal investment initiatives championed by the Coordinating Minister of Health.
“Crucial to this strategy is a need to ensure access to appropriate, effective, efficient, and timely emergency transport for rural dwellers who bear the brunt from observed limited access to health care through evidence-based emergency service programs.
“One of the goals of this program is to drive demand for, and improve access to timely, effective, and efficient Rural emergency services and maternal transportation for 1.7 million pregnant rural dwellers in 15 Selected impact project states by December 2025.”
He also noted that the program aimed to provide 24/7 medical emergency services to citizens who need it anywhere at no cost for the first 48 hours with a fleet of different categories of Ambulances.
On his part, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Health, Sani Damban, asserted that the NEMSAS program is a life-saving initiative.
Damban appreciated President Bola Tinubu and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, for the program, adding that it’s a life-saving initiative that the state government would sustain.
Represented by the Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Suleiman Abubakar, the commissioner disclosed that “The federal government had successfully launched NEMSAS through the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (SEMSAS) in Bauchi state.
“It is in that line that the officials from NEMSAS paid a visit to have a meeting on how to Kickstart the program on a proper note.
“We sincerely appreciate the effort of Mr. President and that of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare because this is by far one of the best interventions that are going to impact positively on our rural populace.
“We will be displaying injustice to the federal government if we refuse to say that this intervention is one of the best things that happened to the Nigerian population.
“This is because where most of our people are dying is during emergencies, and this scheme is for good, and it’s going to crash our maternal mortality and under-five mortality.
“The government is coming to say that right from your room, there is somebody who is going to lift you and take you to a medical center where you will spend 48 hours receiving treatment free of charge”.
