By Abdulaziz Garba
The Bauchi State Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (SEMSAS) has sensitised pregnant women, triage officers and members of the Mama2Mama support group from ten federal wards in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State on free emergency transportation services for pregnant women and newborn babies.
The sensitisation focused on the Save Mama Digital Platform, an initiative designed to facilitate rapid emergency response through a central call system that deploys the nearest registered vehicle to patients in need.
The Save Mama programme is being implemented under the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovative Initiative through the Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transport (RESMAT) project, aimed at reducing maternal and newborn deaths by improving access to emergency transportation.
Speaking at a town hall meeting in Dass, the SEMSAS Consultant for Bauchi State, Dr. Aminu Tukur Sulaiman, said the engagement was organised to familiarise triage officers and community members with the digital reporting system.
He explained that the platform provides a dedicated phone line through which pregnant women can contact a triage officer in their ward or the central call centre in Abuja, provide their location details and receive prompt transportation to the nearest health facility.
According to Dr. Sulaiman, the initiative was introduced by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, to address the high rate of maternal and newborn mortality in the country. He disclosed that about 172 local government areas are currently benefiting from the programme nationwide.
Dr. Sulaiman further revealed that from June 2024 to date, the programme has reached approximately 4,900 beneficiaries out of a target of 5,000 women and newborns.
In an interview, a triage officer from Wandi Ward, Bara’atu Abubakar, said their role is to serve as intermediaries between beneficiaries and service providers to ensure swift emergency response.
Also speaking, a pregnant woman, Rahina Aliyu, described the initiative as timely, particularly in view of the prevailing economic challenges, and commended both the federal and state governments for sustaining the programme.
The sensitisation exercise is expected to strengthen emergency response mechanisms and enhance access to quality maternal healthcare services in Dass Local Government Area.