Health Minister, Pate Commissions emergency Medical Services, Ambulance System In Bauchi

By: Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi

The Federal Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Ali Pate on Tuesday commissioned the Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (SEMSAS) in Bauchi State.

The ceremony held at the Bauchi State Ministry of Health along Bank road, In Bauchi.

Pate said 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.

The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) has prioritized emergency medical services in order to progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (CHU) as prescribed by the NHA will fund delivery of emergency medical services.

He said that 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 federal Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate said that the mission of NEMSAS and SEMSAS is to establish an ICT that will enable 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.

Adding that the SEMSAS operational guidelines include of emergency call center that will 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 closes vicinity to the patient.

Then 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 Medical Treatment Center, the patient at the medical treatment center shall receive treatment of his or her emergency at no cost for the first 48hours of arrival.

“If the patient is taken out of emergency he or she takes full responsibility of further treatment”

He 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.

Muhammad Ali Pate who was accompanied to the venue by the state Minister of Health, Tunji Alausa, Permanent secretary Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Mrs. Daju Kachollom and top officials from the ministry.

In his part, the Bauchi state commissioner for health, Sani Mohammad Dambam expressed his appreciation to the minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate for the commissioning work.