The FCT Administration is set to begin the full implementation of the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) in the Territory.
Towards the implementation of the project, the Administration has already engaged 66 personnel for the project.
This disclosure was made Tuesday by the Secretary for the Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Abubakar Tafida in Abuja during the FCT Executive Committee meeting.
Speaking after the meeting, Dr Tafida said “As part of the National Health Act 2014, the Federal Government approved for 5 per cent of the basic healthcare provision fund to be used for emergency medical and ambulance services and I’m happy to say that the Federal Capital Territory Executive Committee has approved the immediate implementation of the pilot scheme in the FCT as well as granting us the permission to engage a total of 66 personnel for this pilot programme.”
Explaining how the NEMSAS would work, Dr Tafida explained: “Essentially, we are talking of a situation where if there is any injury or any ill health that is capable of risking the life of an individual or posing a permanent disability to the health of that individual, he or she is meant to be given prompt care at the point of the incident and then prompt transportation in an ambulance system to an emergency treatment centre in designated hospitals and treatment would be provided until such a person is stabilised for further treatment in that same hospital or transferred to a higher hospital where appropriate care would be provided.”
He also disclosed that the FCT Administration has already begun a dry run for the pilot phase of the scheme and challenges and possible problems have been identified.
It could be recalled that the FCT was selected to pilot the new National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System, which is a national programme of the Federal Ministry of Health that will be implemented in the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT.
In a related development, the appointment of Dr Abdulateef Bello, Acting Director, Department of Security Services as the new substantive Director of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) was announced after the meeting.
The meeting was attended by the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr. Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr Shehu Hadi Ahmed, Mandate Secretaries and Special Assistants to the Minister as well as heads of strategic Agencies and Departments of the FCTA.
