- Ekiti State’s Executive Secretary of the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Ayodele Seluwa, welcomed the initiative, saying it would bridge transportation gaps and enhance healthcare access
The Federal Government has launched the Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transportation (RESMAT) initiative, aiming to save 1.7 million pregnant women in rural areas from maternal deaths.
Adejoke Dada, representing the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), revealed that the programme, in collaboration with the World Bank, addresses gaps in accessing timely and affordable healthcare for pregnant women. Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, Dada said RESMAT would roll out in 15 states under the IMPACT Project starting January 2025.
“This programme ensures rural women and newborns receive affordable emergency care to reduce deaths from childbirth and neonatal diseases,” she said.
Dr Prosper Ahworegba, a NEMSAS resource person, explained that the World Bank would provide ambulances to transport pregnant women and children in emergencies. “With Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate between 576 and 615 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to just seven in the UK, this initiative is critical,” he noted.
The ambulances, stationed at local wards, will operate on a token payment model to ensure sustainability. Ahworegba emphasised that the project’s goal is to reduce maternal and infant deaths, particularly in rural areas lacking access to healthcare.
Ekiti State’s Executive Secretary of the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Ayodele Seluwa, welcomed the initiative, saying it would bridge transportation gaps and enhance healthcare access, reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
Seluwa urged communities to embrace the programme by spreading awareness and participating in its implementation.