The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System, NEMSAS, has expanded its operations to 30 states across Nigeria, enabling residents in those states to access free emergency medical care by dialing 112.
The National Programme Manager of NEMSAS, Dr. Emuren Doubra, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Abuja.
Dr. Doubra said; “the Nigerian Government covers the cost of the first 48 hours of treatment, funded through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).”
According to him, the agency recorded a 25 percent increase in onboarded states and a 304 percent rise in the number of emergency medical beneficiaries served.
He noted that transported patients increased from fewer than 3,000 to over 11,000, reflecting faster mobilisation and stronger collaboration among healthcare providers.
“Twenty-six Federal Tertiary Health Facilities now participate in the system, providing referral pathways, skilled medical teams, essential equipment, and timely interventions for patients in severe emergencies,” he stated.
Dr. Doubra added that Rapid Emergency Service Management and Triage structures are operational in 166 out of 172 local government areas, though insecurity has disrupted activation in some northern communities.
He revealed that more than 5,000 obstetric emergencies were handled, with 86 percent of the cases delivered to facilities capable of performing surgery, blood transfusion, and neonatal resuscitation.
Despite the progress, he said six maternal and eighty-two neonatal deaths were recorded, indicating the need for improved stabilisation of complicated pregnancies and faster access to lifesaving interventions.
Dr. Doubra disclosed that ₦487 million was disbursed to states and facilities in the third quarter — ₦332.6 million to tertiary health facilities and ₦154.3 million to states, including Yobe, Rivers, Ebonyi, Gombe, Ogun, Bayelsa, Osun, Bauchi, and Anambra.
He also unveiled an innovation known as SAVEMAMA, which uses the short code 3581 to help pregnant women request emergency transport through free calls, USSD sessions, or text messages without airtime. The platform verifies requests, alerts trained drivers, coordinates facilities, and tracks journeys to ensure safe arrival while automatically processing payments.
In addition, NEMSAS has partnered with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to deploy Zebra ambulances and train personnel in basic life support, especially for maternal and child emergencies.
Currently, 63 Zebra ambulances operate across 23 states, with plans to expand to Adamawa, Cross River, Enugu, and Kwara.
Dr. Doubra said “a dedicated media cell has been established to raise public awareness, encourage early emergency calls, and build trust in the national system.”
He sai that the next phase includes completing state onboarding, launching SAVEMAMA, developing digital enterprise systems, and fully operationalising all Rapid Emergency Service Management units nationwide.
Dr. Doubra reaffirmed NEMSAS’s commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian dies due to delayed emergency response when timely intervention could save lives
NAN