National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving emergency healthcare delivery across Nigeria through stronger collaboration with government agencies, private partners, and the media.
Speaking at the inauguration of the NEMSAS Media Cell on Friday in Abuja, the National Programme Manager, Dr. Emuren Doubra, explained that the initiative aims to create a unified, standardised, and accessible system for emergency response nationwide.
He said, ‘In Nigeria, we have fragmented emergency medical services as private, community-based, NGOs and without a structured system, we experience leakages and non-standard emergency care.’
‘What NEMSAS has come to do is to create standards and ensure that vulnerable patients receive these services without having to bear the cost of immediate payment.’
Doubra also identified poor communication as the most pressing challenge in emergency response, particularly the inefficiency of the 1-1-2 emergency number operated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
‘If you are not able to call or get across your emergency to a response agency, you can’t get served,’ he explained.
‘The 1-1-2 number works well in some areas but poorly in most states. We are engaging the NCC to improve its functionality because Nigerians seriously need that number to work effectively.’
He added that inadequate communication coverage, geographical barriers, and shortage of health workers were hampering timely response.
‘Migration is leading to serious leakages and a lack of health workers. We need support and collaboration with the private sector to fill these gaps,’ he said.
Doubra thanked the media and reaffirmed NEMSAS’s resolve to build an effective, equitable emergency medical system.
‘We appreciate the Coordinating Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for making emergency medical services a core pillar of this administration.’
‘Our mission is to reduce maternal and child mortality by strengthening emergency medical services as a key link between all levels of healthcare in Nigeria.’ he said.
The Director-General of the National Blood Service Agency (NBSA), Professor Saleh Yuguda, highlighted the critical role of the media in promoting public awareness about NEMSAS.
‘Today, we inaugurated the Media Cell of the National Emergency Medical Services. Whatever the federal government is doing, people need to know about it.’
‘NEMSAS has been established to cater for emergencies nationwide. The federal government will take care of treatment for anyone within the first 48 hours free of charge, that’s the main goal.’
From the private sector, Folake Owodunni, Co-founder and CEO of Emergency Response Africa, commended the initiative, describing it as a major step toward bridging Nigeria’s emergency care gap.
‘Emergencies can affect anybody at any time, and often they are not appropriately addressed,’ she said.
‘Our goal in the private sector is to work alongside the public sector to expand capacity and ensure that everyone – not just those who can pay, gets the help they need when they need it.’
She added that Emergency Response Africa connects hospitals and ambulance providers nationwide to improve response time and patient outcomes.
Dr. Simeon Onyemechi, Chairman of the Forum of CEOs of State Social Insurance Agencies, said the NEMSAS programme was transforming access to critical care.
‘This ensures that individuals, whether insured or not, have access to emergency care at no cost within the first 48 hours,’ he explained.
‘We vet hospital claims promptly and are working toward e-payment systems to make reimbursements faster and keep providers motivated.’
Dr. Francis Nwachukwu of the World Health Organization (WHO) said the programme’s success depends on sustainable financing.
‘It will be difficult to achieve the objectives of NEMSAS without appropriate financing,’ he said.
‘With the Coordinating Minister’s reforms and the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme, funding through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund has strengthened the system. What is now needed is for NEMSAS to be fully functional in all 36 states.’
Media advocate Moji Makanjuola, Executive Director of the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), urged journalists to help raise public awareness of the service.
‘Until people know that such a service exists, they cannot make the best use of it,’ she said.
‘The media must see itself as a partner in progress to ensure that emergency care is available and to reduce mortality caused by lack of timely intervention.’
Dr. Hozie Okonuha, Programme Manager of the FCT Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System, noted that Abuja was the first to roll out the NEMSAS initiative in 2022.
‘We’ve expanded our services to all area councils and work closely with FRSC, police, and emergency teams.’
‘Every second counts. Nigerians should stop recording videos during accidents, instead, call the emergency number so ambulances can be dispatched quickly.’