Federal Government to Provide Free Emergency Transport Services for 1.7 Million Pregnant Women in Rural Areas
Bauchi state, Nigeria – The Federal Government has announced plans to deliver free emergency transportation services to 1.7 million pregnant women residing in rural regions of Nigeria. Nasir Yakubu, the Head of Management for the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), made this announcement in Bauchi during a stakeholder engagement session focused on the implementation of rural ambulance services in the state.
Yakubu explained that the program is part of the World Bank-supported NEMSAS initiative, which will be executed through the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (SEMSAS) in 15 selected states known for their impact projects, with Bauchi among them. The initiative is expected to be operational by December 2025.
“President Bola Tinubu is committed to fast-tracking Nigeria’s journey toward universal health coverage by ensuring that healthcare is accessible at the grassroots level,” Yakubu stated. He highlighted that the strategy focuses on empowering rural communities with well-equipped emergency transport services to tackle the existing healthcare access challenges.
A primary goal of this program is to enhance demand for efficient emergency and maternal transportation services for the targeted 1.7 million pregnant women across the selected states by the end of 2025.
The initiative aims to provide round-the-clock medical emergency services to those in need, offering free transportation for the first 48 hours via a fleet of ambulances of various types.
Bauchi State’s Commissioner for Health, Sani Damban, expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, for this life-saving initiative. He emphasized the significance of the program, noting its potential to make a lasting impact on the state’s rural population.
Suleiman Abubakar, the Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, represented Damban during the meeting. He confirmed that the federal government had officially launched NEMSAS in Bauchi, and discussions were underway on how to ensure a successful rollout of the program.
Abubakar stated, “We sincerely appreciate the effort of Mr. President and the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare because this intervention is poised to significantly benefit the Nigerian populace.” He pointed out that the initiative is particularly crucial as many lives are lost during emergencies.
“This scheme is set to reduce maternal and under-five mortality rates. The government is committed to ensuring that help reaches individuals right from their homes and transports them to a medical facility, where they can receive free treatment for 48 hours,” he added.
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