Mediaage NG News – Port Harcourt, Nigeria (Thursday 18th July, 2024)
The National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) said its Program Implementation Unit’s visit to Rivers State was to “empanel” the State Emergency Medical Service into the Emergency Medical Treatment (EMT) Gateway, as well as align the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (REMSAS) with the standards, norms and systems of the EMT gateway as contained in NEMSAS’ Implementation guidelines.
Head of Operations, NEMSAS, Dr. Emuren Pere said the team were in the State to guide REMSA’ team on the modus operandi for implementing such a novel initiative.
According to him, the launching of REMSAS portrays political ownership and is a laudable feat.
“It is an important step towards ensuring Rivers State benefits from the Emergency Medical Treatment (EMT) gateway, Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) catalytic fund, he said.
“NEMSAS are here to support your service, to guide in proffering standards for emergency medical services for the EMT gateway but not necessary taking over your full responsibility as the custodian of emergency medical service in your State”, Dr. Pere added.
He disclosed that, during the 7th Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) held recently in Abuja, resolutions were reached on the NEMSAS programme, that is the EMT gateway to prioritize the rural emergency component of NEMSAS which focuses on addressing obstetrics and neonatal emergencies as well as the transportation of pregnant women from their homes to Basic or Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and New-Born Care facilities for safe delivery.
Rivers State, he said, will serve as a foremost State to operationalize the new direction of NEMSAS, which is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, Sector-Wide Approach Programme (SWAp) – Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
The State Coordinator, REMSAS, Dr. Ojum Sylvanus, led the NEMSAS PIU on a tour of its facilities and then proceeded to visit the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the Military Hospital Port Harcourt, which are known Centres of excellence for emergency medical treatments, to seek partnership as treatment centres.
Following interactions with the leadership of both hospitals, some concerns and reservations were made with willingness on their part to partner with the State to provide quality, affordable, effective and efficient pre-hospital and in-hospital stabilization of medical emergency services for the Rural Emergency Medical Services and Maternal Transport. NEMSAS also visited the Armed Forces Blood Centre, Port-Harcourt to advocate for safe blood availability during EMS.
Earlier, the team paid a courtesy visit to the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, who reiterated that Emergency Medical Service will provide rapid response, live-saving care and serve as a crucial link between emergencies and medical care for the people of the State. NEMSAS also had a brief meeting with members of the State Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (SEMTC).