By Becky Miana
If you or a loved one faces a medical emergency in Gombe State today, help is now just a call away.
Residents of Gombe State will now enjoy 48 hours of free medical care for all emergency cases, following the official launch of the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Scheme, SEMSAS.
The scheme was formally inaugurated in Gombe by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, in the presence of the Chief of Staff to the Governor and other top government officials.
The programme, which guarantees prompt emergency response and free treatment within the first 48 hours of any medical emergency, is part of efforts by the Inuwa Yahaya administration to improve access to healthcare and save lives across the state.
Dr. Habu Dahiru explained that SEMSAS, which was onboarded under the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Scheme (NEMSAS) in 2024, has recorded significant progress in strengthening emergency care delivery.
He noted that the state also operates the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport (RESMAT) initiative, which provides free transportation for pregnant women in rural and underserved communities using motorbikes and other locally adapted means.
The Commissioner said the new scheme demonstrates government’s commitment to ensuring that no resident is denied medical attention during emergencies due to financial constraints.
“With the launch of SEMSAS, patients with emergency conditions in designated hospitals will now receive treatment free of charge for the first 48 hours. This initiative underscores our administration’s commitment to saving lives and ensuring that no one is left behind.”
The Project Coordinator of SEMSAS, Dr. Suraj Bello, revealed that while the official emergency hotline “112” is being finalized, Gombe has partnered with the GoHealth 24/7 Call Center to temporarily coordinate emergency calls and dispatch services across the state.
He added that through this collaboration, residents can report emergencies and get immediate assistance from the SEMSAS response team.
Also speaking, Dr. Suraj Kwami charged the newly recruited drivers and emergency personnel to uphold professionalism, integrity, and discipline in service delivery.
Community leaders and stakeholders at the event commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his foresight in establishing the initiative, describing SEMSAS as a landmark project that will bridge the gap between emergency response and hospital care—especially in rural and low-income communities.
Gombe State has recently strengthened its emergency healthcare architecture through the combined implementation of SEMSAS and RESMAT. While SEMSAS focuses on urban and hospital-based emergencies, RESMAT caters to rural and maternal health emergencies, ensuring that residents in remote areas are not left behind.
With operations already active in eight local government areas, Gombe is fast becoming a model for integrated emergency medical response in Nigeria.
Residents are encouraged to report emergency cases through the GoHealth call center while awaiting the completion of the state’s dedicated 112 hotline.