Speaking on the occasion which took place at the State Secretariat, Awka, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala who performed the inauguration on behalf of the State Government, disclosed that Anambra is the first State to set up the Committee in the country.
He explained that the mission of the Committee is to use available resources to provide a high-quality integrated emergency medical service and ambulance system.
Dr. Okpala also revealed that National Health Act which was passed into law in 2014 provides for medical emergencies and that section eleven, sub-section three C of the act, prescribed that five percent of the National Healthcare Basic Fund should go to medical emergencies in Nigeria.
The Commissioner pointed out that the role of the Committee among other things is to enhance emergency service delivery at State level and effective mobilization of State and National Emergency Medical Treatment Committee resources for Anambra state.
He added that the Committee shall equally identify and update a database of providers within the State for accreditation, establish the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance system, expedite verification of claims using Anambra State Health Insurance Agency mechanism, identify human resource requirements and administer human resource development for emergency medical services among others.
The Executive Secretary, Anambra State Health Insurance Agency, Dr Simeon Onyemaechi, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, thanked governor Obiano for providing medical infrastructure that will enable the Committee function effectively and efficiently, pointing out that even one minute means a lot in medical services, and urged the Committee to live up to expectations.
The Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Obinna Mbah, assured that they will discharge their duties creditably.
Others present at the event the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Linus Nwankwo, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Creative Security, Air Vice Marshall Ben Chiobi, among others.
