Reimagining Emergency Medical Services in Africa: A Conversation with Emergency Response Africa CEO, Folake Owodunni

The recent Prehospital Emergency Care Stakeholder Summit: Beyond the Ambulance held in Lagos was more than just another healthcare conference. It brought together passionate healthcare leaders, dedicated policymakers, innovative tech entrepreneurs, and committed community advocates—all united by a common goal: reshaping emergency medical services (EMS) in Africa. Sitting down for a reflective conversation afterwards, Folake Owodunni, CEO of Emergency Response Africa, shared valuable insights into the immense challenges facing EMS, alongside practical and sustainable solutions for moving forward.

“We often overlook how important prehospital care is,” Owodunni remarked poignantly, underscoring the urgency of strengthening EMS structures. Indeed, how many precious lives could be saved each year if emergency response was treated as a priority, not an afterthought?

Anecdotally, Folake illustrated the gravity of gaps in Nigeria’s current system. “Imagine a mother in labor, deep in rural Ogun state,” she explained carefully, her voice carrying subtle emotional depth. “She needs help immediately, but there are no ambulances nearby. Roads are rugged, healthcare infrastructure is sparse, and professional responders are hours away. Tragically, this scenario isn’t uncommon.”

Such anecdotes highlight why prehospital emergency care must be embedded into health policy discourse. Statistics provided by Emergency Response Africa underscore these glaring inadequacies. Nigeria currently has only 0.4 ambulances per 100,000 people—far below the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of one ambulance per 10,000 people. Consequently, more than 60% of Nigerians still lack consistent access to any meaningful emergency medical support. Think for a moment: what if an emergency occurred within your immediate family—is that acceptable?

Yet amid these challenges lie numerous possibilities. “The power of community engagement in EMS solutions is enormous,” Owodunni emphasized. She passionately advocates for the training of community members as first responders, highlighting real-life successes in Ogun State. There, their Rural Maternity Health Emergency Transport initiative has safely transported over 500 expectant mothers. Remarkably, due to community training and awareness programs, none of these mothers lost their lives—a tangible achievement made possible by collaboration and innovation.

“Community members represent our first line of defense in emergencies, especially in remote areas. Empower them with skills and knowledge, and you empower a generation.” – Folake Owodunni

As we delved deeper into systemic barriers preventing the widespread adoption of such successful models, regulatory issues and policy gaps emerged as critical stumbling blocks. Emergency care personnel, particularly paramedics, often lack formal recognition in national healthcare frameworks. Without formal acknowledgment and standardized training programs, skilled professionals remain limited. Financial barriers further hinder growth, with inconsistent government funding and limited insurance coverage significantly curtailing expansion opportunities.

So, how can stakeholders across the continent effectively scale EMS solutions?

Mrs. Owodunni underscores the transformative potential of innovative approaches. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) offer an outstanding solution to overcome financial hurdles. Corporate initiatives, collaboration with telecom giants for communication enhancement, and partnerships with insurers would be vital lifelines in bolstering EMS infrastructure. Additionally, embracing technology that harnesses big data analytics and artificial intelligence could revolutionize ambulance dispatch strategies, optimizing efficiency and reducing response times significantly.

Mrs. Owodunni passionately elaborated on successful deployments of motorcycle and tricycle ambulances, enabling access to remote areas inaccessible by conventional vehicles. Such simple adaptations might just mean life or death in rural emergencies.

What role should international organizations and donors play?

The role of global health organizations, international donors, and development partners is paramount. “Their influence extends beyond financial backing—they can propel EMS onto governmental agendas,” Owodunni noted insightfully. Policy advocacy led by these organizations can push the needle significantly, creating robust regulatory frameworks which mandate EMS integration into healthcare strategies continent-wide. Perhaps more importantly, they can foster global knowledge exchanges, linking local advancements to international standards and expertise.

Measuring EMS Impact: Understanding Effectiveness

Data collection and transparent performance metrics underpin successful EMS strategies. Emergency Response Africa closely tracks response times, patient survival outcomes, CPR trainings, and geographic coverage expansion. These tangible metrics ensure accountability and continuous improvement, guiding decision-makers towards informed policy adoption and resource allocation.

Tackling Maternal Mortality: An Urgent Priority

One compelling success story from her organization’s efforts is the Rural Maternity Transportation Service initiative in Ogun State. This program goes beyond transport—over 150 local volunteers received training as first responders, significantly bolstering community resilience. Over 2,000 expectant parents gained education about recognizing emergencies, proving how knowledge itself saves lives. The societal impact on maternal health has been genuinely inspiring.

Yet mainstreaming such successes isn’t without substantial hurdles. Poor transport infrastructure, acute shortages in skilled health personnel, and insufficient sustained funding make scaling such projects challenging. Nevertheless, these examples firmly establish pathways and proof-points for broader deployment across Nigeria and Africa.

Collaboration and Coordination: The Vital Way Ahead

Folake emphasized the importance of collaboration with midwives, traditional birth attendants, and community health workers—often the immediate caregivers during emergencies. “Our goal isn’t to replace them, but to equip and empower them,” she clarified warmly. Indeed, respectful partnership and support can create sustainable improvements not merely at emergency points but across the healthcare continuum.

In conclusion, the resonance of the Prehospital Emergency Care Stakeholder Summit continues in calls for collective action. Strengthening emergency medical services is no longer negotiable but a critical human right that must shape policy, funding, innovation, and community mobilization across Africa.

Perhaps the most profound question raised throughout our discussion with Folake was simple yet powerful: “If not now, when? If not us, who?” Indeed, the time for systematic, widespread action to save lives through robust EMS across Africa is now.

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Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.