By Sola Ogundipe

The Ogun State government, in partnership with Emergency Response Africa (ERA), a leading healthcare technology company, has launched a groundbreaking initiative to reduce maternal mortality and improve access to life-saving emergency obstetric care in rural communities.

The Rural Maternal Health Emergency Transportation (R-MHET) service leverages cutting-edge technology and on-the-ground emergency services to efficiently respond to maternal health crises in underserved areas.

Supported by the Novartis Foundation and the Global Fund through the Health Tech Hub Innovation Challenge, the R-MHET programme is designed to address the critical challenges of limited healthcare infrastructure and timely access to care in rural communities.

The R-MHET initiative offers free emergency transportation to pregnant women through a voucher system. Additionally, non-emergency transportation is available for antenatal care appointments, reducing the risk of emergencies.

The service will initially launch in Odeda Local Government Area, with plans to expand to other regions of Ogun State in the coming months.

By partnering with the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency, the initiative aims to establish a financially sustainable model that can be replicated nationwide. This not only addresses immediate healthcare needs but also lays the foundation for long-term improvements in maternal and emergency response services in Ogun State.

Utilising USSD and SMS-based dispatch systems, trained Community-Based First Responders will promptly transport pregnant women and infants to healthcare facilities during emergencies. The initiative will also expand the capacity of the Ogun State Ambulance and Emergency Service (OGSAES), strengthening referral systems across healthcare facilities. 

Responding to the development, the  Commissioner for Health, Ogun State, Dr. Tomi Coker, said, “Research shows that when a mother dies, her child is 50 times more likely to die within the first month of life. The loss affects not just her family but the entire community. This initiative is a critical part of our strategy to reduce maternal mortality.

“Partnering with Emergency Response Africa allows us to provide women with the life-saving transportation they need during emergencies, saving mothers, children, and families. By saving one life, we are protecting the future of an entire community.”

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of ERA, Folake Owodunni, remarked, “We started Emergency Response Africa because too many lives are lost to preventable causes in Nigeria. These are losses we cannot afford. Our partnership with the Ogun State Government on the

“Rural Maternal Health Emergency Transportation service will help us save more than 1,000 lives by ensuring that pregnant women can reach healthcare facilities during emergencies.

“This project is part of our broader mission to build a responsive emergency healthcare system in Nigeria that leaves no one behind.”

Driven by its mission to deliver fast and reliable emergency medical services across Nigeria, ERA is addressing one of the major barriers to maternal survival – the inability to reach healthcare facilities during obstetric emergencies. Through this collaboration, ERA is ensuring that no woman loses her life due to preventable delays in receiving essential care.

The 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and the NDHIS 2018 for Ogun State revealed a state-level Maternal Mortality Ratio of 179 per 100,000 live births and an Infant Mortality Ratio, and Under-5 Mortality Ratio of 68/1000, 85/1000 live births respectively.

These figures underscore the urgent need for improved healthcare access, particularly for pregnant women in rural areas. Many of these deaths occur due to delays in seeking help, reaching healthcare facilities, and receiving adequate care upon arrival-the exact challenges the R-MHET programme is designed to overcome.

Emergency Response Africa is a healthcare technology company dedicated to revolutionizing the management of medical emergencies in Africa, starting with Nigeria. Leveraging the largest network of First Responders, ambulances, and Emergency-Ready hospitals, ERA connects emergency victims to vital assistance 24/7.

Through its innovative technology platform and 24-hour Command Center, ERA ensures seamless and high-quality emergency medical services from start to finish.