The Federal Government of Nigeria has concluded plans for the Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transportation, RESMT initiative.
According to the Government, the initiative targets saving 1.7 million pregnant women in rural areas of the country from maternal death.
This was contained in a statement by the representative of the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System, Adejoke Dada.
She noted that the project is being undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Bank. Dada stated that the project was out to fill the gaps in accessing appropriate, timely and affordable healthcare by pregnant women.
She made this disclosure while speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Wednesday. This was ahead of the project take-off in January 2025.
According to the NEMSAS, the RESMAT activities were billed to be undertaken in 15 IMPACT Project States, that includes Ekiti.
“This programme is to help 1.7 million pregnant women to access affordable and qualitative emergency care. So, that these women in the rural areas do not die of childbirth anymore. And also to ensure that our newborns too do not die of morbidity diseases that are associated with neonatal.
“This initiative is championed by the Minister of Health. Prof Ali Pate, ordered that we should empower 15 States as the first batch. So, that the communities which have high mortality and morbidity rates could be assisted. To access timely, affordable and adequate emergency care for the rural women and children under five and neonatal,” Dada said.
A resource person with NEMSAS, Dr. Prosper Ahworegba, spoke on the collaboration in the project. He said under the RESMAT initiative, the World Bank would provide ambulances in different wards in the 15 beneficiary States. These are for emergency transportation of pregnant women and children to primary healthcare centres and obstetrics and newborn centres.
“A lot of women die because of lack of access to healthcare when they are pregnant. The figures for maternal and infant mortality across Nigeria are very high.
“While the UK has just seven deaths per 100,000 live births, Nigeria has between 576 and 615 deaths per 100,000 live births. This is embarrassing. That is why the Federal Ministry of Health feels that we should help women in rural areas.
“A preponderance of those who die are in the rural areas. And most of them die because they cannot access transportation to the nearest hospital that can take care of them. That is the essence of our presence here,” Ahworegba said.
According to him, an ambulance was prescribed to serve 10,000 persons. He said, “The World Bank will provide the ambulances, but people will pay a token so that it will be sustainable.
“The ambulance will be in that ward. So, that if there is a need to move a child who is sick or a pregnant woman who requires extra care, that person will be moved immediately to the next comprehensive emergency obstetrics and newborn centre.
“We have 15 States for this IMPACT Project. We expect to help 1.7 million pregnant women in rural areas. And save them from early deaths due to pregnancy-related causes,” the medical expert said.
The representative of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ayodele Seluwa said the initiative would boost healthcare delivery in terms of access to care.
Seluwa, therefore, listed factors responsible for high maternity and infant mortality in some communities. These he said include access and transportation. He, however, noted that the initiative would address transportation problems and ensure access.
“If that gap is filled, we will be able to reduce maternal mortality and infant mortality in most cases.
“With the right information, people will get to know about the ambulance service. And the community has to be involved so that they own the system.
“They will have the numbers and know where to call when the services will be available,” the PHCDA boss said.
source: PUNCH
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