By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate yesterday explained that lack of comprehensive emergency services contributes substantially to crude mortality rates, but most especially maternal and child mortality rates which remain unacceptably high in Nigeria.

Pate made this assertion, while inaugurating members of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee (NEMTC) recently in Abuja. The Minister stated that, it was estimated that every year, Nigeria has about 7 million pregnancies with an estimated 9%, developing complications mostly in the rural areas. He stressed that the provision of adequate pre-hospital and in-hospital emergency care and referral systems between Basic Emergency Obstetric and NewBorn (BEMONC) and CEMONC health facilities as well as ensuring financial risk protection for pregnant women in rural settings where a majority of maternal mortalities are recorded, can help reduce our poor indices and improve health outcomes.Pate described the job of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee as important and should be handled as such, adding that it was integral to this administration’s goal for the health sector codified in the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.According to the Minister, the task of the NEMTC was to approve the NEMSAS work plan for the administration of the stipulated 5% of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund; Provide periodic (quarterly, audited accounts and performance reports to the Ministerial Oversight Committee; Coordinate Emergency Medical Services in Nigeria; Ensure the delivery of quality, effective, efficient, and timely Emergency Medical Services in Nigeria; Prepare the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System programme for eventual transition into an Agency and meet at least bi-monthly to perform any other assignment as delegated by the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare.The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, mni said the importance of the Committee cannot be overemphasized, considering the rate at which people are dying in road accidents, without emergency care adding that one of the mandates of the Ministry is to ensure much needed quality healthcare services and saving lives. She is optimistic that in the next 2 years, Nigeria will have a vibrant Emergency Medical Service.In his response, Chairman of the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee, Dr. Ismail Musa Jibrin, said that the establishment of a world-class Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system in Nigeria holds tremendous potential not only in saving lives but also create downstream economic opportunities along the value chain for ambulance drivers, EMTs equipment vendors to ICT experts. He pledged the full commitment of the committee members to propel the vision forward while leveraging their expertise and resources to build an emergency care system that serves Nigerians.Members of the Committee Include: Dr Ismaila Musa Jibrin – Chairman, Prof Seyeifa Brisibe – Co-Chairman, Dr Oyebanji Filiani – Honourable Commissioner of Ekiti State/Chairman Honourable Commissioners Forum, Dr Simeone Onyaemechi – CEO/Anambra State Health Insurance Agency/Chairman Forum of SSHIA CEOs, Dr Muhammed Usman Adis – Executive Secretary Nasarawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency/Chairman Forum of Executive Secretaries of SPHCDAs, Dr Ezire Onoroide – Senior Health Specialist – World Bank and Mr Daniel Atabo – Chief Search and Rescue Officer – NEMA.Others were: Representative of World Health Organization, Chairman Guild of Medical Directors, Chairman Committee of Chief Medical Directors, Representative of Federal Fire Service, Representative of Nigeria Police Force, Representative of Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Representative of Media, President, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Representative of Civil Society Organization (CSO), President Association of Social Workers of Nigeria, Representative Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Representative Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Representative of National Blood Service Commission (NBSC).