The federal government has said about 1.7 million pregnant women dwelling in 15 selected rural communities across the country would have access to a free transportation system in 2025.
The National Programme Manager of the National Emergency Medical and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), Dr. Saidu Ahmed Dumbulwa, stated this in Damaturu, at stakeholders’ engagement ahead of the project’s kickoff in Yobe State.
Represented by Ahmed Lawan-Tijjani, Dumbulwa explained that the agency would provide rural emergency and maternal transportation services for 1,700,000 pregnant women by the end of December 2025.
Dumbulwa noted the importance of state governments to key into the programme which would improve maternal health while reducing infant death rate across the country.
“The state government already has Yobe State Emergency Medical and Ambulance Services, so now, we are looking at how we will collaborate to avert the delays in providing health emergencies to improve the indices of the state.
“The target is that by the end of December 2025, we will be able to reach 1,700,000 pregnant women rural dwellers in 15 states of the federation,” he said.
NEMSAS boss further disclosed that to ensure the success of the exercise, there would be a partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NUTRW) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
He reinstated that the target of the government is to improve the maternal health of pregnant women and minimize infant deaths.
Speaking, the Yobe State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammed Lawan Gana, commended the federal government for the programme.
He said the exercise would complement Governor Mai Mala Buni‘s quest to provide Universal Healthcare coverage in the state.
“With the coming of this project, it’s going to further complement what the Yobe state government is doing in providing health emergencies. We have a lot of gabs, so we believe with this initiative it’s going to minimize it,” Nigerian Tribune quoted Gana.