The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) has recorded a sharp increase in emergency patient transports, rising from fewer than 3,000 to over 11,000 in the third quarter of 2025.

According to Dr. Emuren Doubra, NEMSAS National Programme Manager, the growth reflects greater public awareness, faster mobilization, and improved collaboration among health providers.

“This surge shows Nigerians are increasingly confident in using NEMSAS for emergency medical care,” Dr. Doubra said.

NEMSAS currently operates in 30 states, offering free emergency care for the first 48 hours under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). In Q3, over 5,000 obstetric emergencies were handled, with 86% reaching equipped hospitals. However, six maternal and 82 neonatal deaths were recorded.

Financially, about ₦487 million was disbursed during the quarter ₦332.6 million to tertiary hospitals and ₦154.3 million to participating states including Rivers, Yobe, and Ebonyi.

Recent innovations include SAVEMAMA, a mobile platform that allows pregnant women to request emergency transport, and the deployment of 63 “Zebra” ambulances across 23 states in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Dr. Doubra said NEMSAS will continue expanding access and improving quality of care to reduce preventable deaths nationwide.