The Federal Government has approved the implementation of the Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transport (RESMAT) programme in Nasarawa State. The programme aims to provide emergency medical services and transport to pregnant women and children under the age of five years, especially in hard-to-reach areas, at no cost.
According to the Chairman of the Nasarawa State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Systems, Dr. Umar Apeshi, the RESMAT programme is part of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Systems programme. Apeshi noted that the programme is designed to reduce the high morbidity and mortality rates in the state.
The RESMAT programme will provide numerous benefits, including free treatment for patients in the first 48 hours, upgrade of facilities at secondary and primary healthcare facilities, and the supply of ambulance tricycles to 30 selected Primary Health Care (PHC) centers across the state.
The programme will be implemented across the 13 Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, with three medical facilities in each of the 147 electoral wards selected for the programme. The implementation team comprises heads of health departments and agencies in the state, Red Cross Society, Nigeria Union of Journalists, among others.
The Nasarawa State Government has pledged its commitment to support the initiative, with the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, appreciating the federal government for the intervention. Akabe assured that the state government would provide an office for the team and establish a command center at the State Ministry of Health as requested.
The RESMAT programme is part of the federal government’s efforts to improve access to emergency medical services in rural settings, in line with the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. The programme is expected to have a significant impact on the healthcare sector in Nasarawa State.
