112: FG to ensure citizens get urgent medical attention

Federal Government of Nigeria says it is determined to ensure citizens get urgent medical attention at the dial of the number, 112.

The Emergency Medical Service, which is intended to fill in the significant gaps in the primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare delivery such as the increase and prevalence of non communicable diseases, reversing the the low life expectancy in Nigeria, reducing the mortality rate occasioned by lack of access to immediate medical attention such as in road accidents and other happenstance.

A call made to 112 according to the Chairman National Emergency Medical Technical Committee, Dr. Felix Ogodebe, goes to the communication Centre which will elicitate computer aided dispatch system and gets the medical dispatch from where the ambulance service is called up to get to the individual in need of emergency service at a known address and taken to an emergency treatment centre for urgent medical attention.

Dr Ogodebe who was speaking at the bi-weekly update on COVID-19 response and developments in the health sector, said the National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee was inaugurated about four and half years ago and mandated to work out a number of emergency services for Nigeria including ambulance services.

He said the committee has put in a lot of work to ensure Nigeria joins the league of countries in the world that have National Emergency Medical Service Scheme, where citizens who need emergency medical care will only dial the three digit number and have immediate response.

According to him, the Federal Ministry of Health is acting as a guarantor and as such, the service providers have no fears even though payment is not demanded at the point of service and the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund caters for those who cannot afford the services whereas for those who have insurance or can afford the services, an invoice will be raised for reimbursement.

Dr. Ogodebe further noted that like in other advanced countries of the world, Nigeria will work to reduce mortality figures and improve outcomes through a virile and active emergency service that would come to the aid of citizens whenever they need urgent emergency care.

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, will be used as pilot for the take off of the National Emergency Medical Service Scheme after the launch on Friday before escalating to other states.