Following
the launch of the Rivers State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System
(REMSAS) last week in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, a team from the Program
Implementation Unit (PIU) of the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS)
are in Port-Harcourt to empanel the State Emergency Medical Service into the
Emergency Medical Treatment (EMT) Gateway, as well as align REMSAS with the standards,
norms and the systems of the EMT gateway as enshrined in the NEMSAS Implementation
guidelines.
Speaking
during the visit to the Rivers State Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance
System (REMSAS) Office, the Head of Operations NEMSAS, Dr. Emuren Pere, said
the team are in the State to guide the REMSAS 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
.
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, 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).
Patricia Deworitshe
Director (Information & PR)
18/7/2024
