The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System has expanded operations to 30 states, allowing residents in those states to access free emergency medical care by dialing 112.

Emuren Doubra, the national programme manager of NEMSAS, said this in an interview on Sunday in Abuja.

Doubra said that the  federal government will cover costs for the first 48 hours of treatment, which is funded through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.

He reported significant progress between quarters, highlighting a 25 per cent increase in onboarded states and a substantial 304 per cent rise in emergency medical beneficiaries served overall.

He said transported patients increased from fewer than three thousand to over eleven thousand, showing greater uptake, faster mobilisation, and strengthened collaboration among participating providers across multiple levels.

“Twenty-six Federal Tertiary Health Facilities now participate within the system, offering referral pathways, skilled medical teams, essential equipment, timely interventions, and better outcomes for patients facing severe emergencies.

“Rapid Emergency Service Management and Triage structures operate in 166 of 174 local government areas, though insecurity disrupts activation in northern communities requiring support.

“More than five thousand obstetric emergencies received transportation, with 86 per cent delivered into Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care facilities capable of surgery, transfusion, neonatal resuscitation, and monitoring,” he said.

In spite of improvements, he said that six maternal deaths and eighty-two neonatal deaths occurred, demonstrating ongoing challenges in stabilising complicated pregnancies before transfer and ensuring rapid availability of essential lifesaving interventions nationwide.

Doubra also said that NEMSAS disbursed more than ₦487 million to states and facilities in the third quarter, covering both tertiary and community-level emergency transport systems.

He said 332.6 million was disbursed to tertiary health facilities, while ₦154.3 million was disbursed to participating states, including Yobe, Rivers, Ebonyi, Gombe, Ogun, Bayelsa, Osun, Bauchi, and Anambra.

An innovation, he said, called SAVEMAMA uses a short code, 3581, developed, enabling pregnant women to request emergency transport via free voice calls, USSD sessions, and text messages without any airtime.

He explained that the platform verifies requests, alerts trained drivers, coordinates facilities, follows journeys, confirms safe arrival, and automatically triggers payments, encouraging consistent, reliable participation that supports vulnerable mothers nationwide.

He added that NEMSAS has partnered with the Federal Road Safety Corps to deploy ‘Zebra’ ambulances and train their staff in basic life support, particularly for obstetric, child, and neonatal emergencies.

According to him, there are currently 63 zebra ambulances across 23 states, with opportunities to leverage additional ones in Adamawa, Cross River, Enugu, and Kwara to fast-track implementation.

“A media cell enhances public awareness, coordinating evidence-based communication, building trust, guiding families, encouraging early calls, and strengthening acceptance of national emergency medical services across diverse regions daily.

“Next steps include concluding onboarding, formally launching SAVEMAMA, developing digital enterprise systems, and fully operationalising every Rapid Emergency Service Management unit throughout eligible local government areas efficiently nationwide,” he said.

(NAN)