Federal Government Launches International Training Of Emergency Care Trainers
During an event organised by the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), the Federal Government has signaled the start of the International Training of Trainers in Basic Emergency Care Services.
While he addressed the events participants, Dr. Saidu Ahmed Dumbulwa, the National Programme Manager of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), revealed that the event marked an important day in the history of the Ministry of Health’s desire to promote the Emergency Medical Services in Nigeria with the collaboration and support of ICRC, which is in line with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recognition as a tie of the healthcare system.
Dr. Saidu praised the management of the ICRC for packaging the Training of Trainers of the Basic Emergency Care Services (BECS), which is the first one of its kind within sub-Sahara Africa to give credence to an effective medical emergency response.
“As part of Mr President Health Sector Agenda, we currently have the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), with three gateways, the NPHCDA, NHIS and EMT. 5% of the 1% CRF is allocated to the EMT gateway.”
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He further added that the EMT gateway owns a programme called National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System, NEMSAS.
The National Programme Manager, NEMSAS, pointed that the COVID-19 pandemic had exposed the fragility of the Nigerian health system as well as globally especially in the areas of medical response. NEMSAS, therefore, stands as a better option to address the missing link in the Nigeria Health Sector for an effective emergency medical response in the control of outbreak of disease in Nigeria.
Dr. Saidu, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health, thanked the ICRC and those who expressed their support for the laudable idea of NEMSAS, and still seek more support of all stakeholders as “the training will be a game-changer especially as we are preparing to roll out the pilot of the NEMSAS Programme.”
Dr Mundi, the representative of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), stated that the ICRC works day in and day out to urgently increase the capacity of healthcare workers for effective basic emergency services to help humanity. He also disclosed that the organisation remained absolutely committed to supporting the Member States in strengthening these essential medical emergency services and cherished the collaboration cooperation existing between ICRC and the Federal Ministry of Health.
