The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has joined forces with Emergency Response Africa (ERA) to launch FID-EMS (Funds for Innovation in Development – Emergency Medical Services) Project.
This transformative initiative aims to revolutionize emergency healthcare response and boost health insurance enrollment in Edo State through cutting-edge technology.
With the key funding support from the Funds for Innovation in Development (FID), a financing mechanism of the French Government dedicated to combating poverty and inequality, the FID-EMS Project represents a crucial response to Nigeria’s significant emergency healthcare crisis. Timely emergency medical response, according to statistics, could prevent 54% of the country’s deaths, saving over 1.23 million lives.
The project’s primary focus is the implementation of a technology-enabled Community-Based First Responder program in Oredo, Egor, and Ikpoba Okha Local Government Areas of Edo State.
Specially trained community members will serve as first responders, utilizing ERA’s cutting-edge technology platform for swift dispatch. Through the use of technology, ambulances and hospitals will be efficiently coordinated for seamless patient transportation.
The FID-EMS Project also aims to drive the enrollment of community members in the Edo Health Insurance Scheme (EDHIS), ensuring long-term financial sustainability.
Edo State is taking the lead in implementing this innovative model, setting the framework for expanded access to the Emergency Medical Transport (EMT) gateway.
Dr. Samuel Alli, Edo State Honourable Commissioner for Health, expressed immense pride in Edo State’s pioneering role in the project, emphasizing the vision for a healthier and safer Edo State.
Anne Thibault, Chief Impact Officer at the Fund for Innovation in Development in France, commended ERA’s intervention and digital platform, noting its potential to significantly improve access to hospitals and emergency services, especially in remote communities.
Folake Owodunni, CEO of ERA, acknowledged the pivotal moment represented by the FID-Edo Project in transforming emergency healthcare response in Nigeria. “Together with the Edo State Government, the initiative aims to save lives, enhance healthcare infrastructure, and set an exemplary standard for health insurance enrollment nationwide.” she said.
