The Federal Government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has formally flagged off the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (SEMSAS) in Bauchi State to improve access to quality healthcare services.
The launching of the scheme which is a boost to effective and efficient healthcare service delivery was performed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, on Tuesday at the premises of the State Ministry of Health.
Ali Pate explained that the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System is a state level programme Implementing Unit of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) which is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health.
According to him, the Ministry has prioritized emergency medical services in order to progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (CHU) as prescribed by the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA) which will fund delivery of emergency medical services.
He said, “the emergency medical services and ambulance system will provide quality, prompt, efficient, effective and accessible transport and treatment services at no cost at the point of care across the country.”
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare added that the mission of NEMSAS and SEMSAS is to establish an ICT that will enable the provision of emergency medical services that is effective, efficient and timely in partnership with the private health sector to increase access to care and reduce morbidity rate and improve health outcomes.
He added that the SEMSAS operational guidelines include of emergency call center that will be a toll free emergency phone number of 112 that functions 24/7 where can individual places call when having an emergency be it medical or surgical.
“The call will be directed to an ambulance driver at the closest vicinity to the patient,” he added.
The Ambulance Services involve transporting of patient to the nearest accredited medical centers as well as providing basic life support to the client on the scene.
While at the Medical Treatment Center, the patient shall receive treatment of his or her emergency at no cost for the first 48hours of arrival.
According to him, “If the patient is taken out of emergency, he or she takes full responsibility of further treatment.”
He further said that the SEMSAS and NEMSAS will reduce infant, child and maternal mortality by providing emergency care and transportation within the golden hour and to extend universal access to basic and advanced life support services to all populations in respective of the location.
Ali Pate was accompanied to the venue by the Minister of State Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Permanent secretary Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Mrs. Daju Kachollom and top officials from the ministry.
On his part, Bauchi state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Mohammad Dambam expressed appreciation to the Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate for flagging-off the scheme in Bauchi state.
He assured that the Ministry will ensure adequate and effective utilisation of the scheme across the state in order to improve Healthcare delivery services.
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