Current Trends in Emergency Medicine in Nigeria

Abstract

Emergency medicine deals with acute and sudden illnesses and life-threatening diseases. It is incorporated into the overall healthcare system within the emergency care system component with the emergency ambulance system being the pivotal linkage between the incident site and the receiving hospitals. The emergency care system in Nigeria is developing, and the developments occur within the components of the system. We review the literature to give a snapshot of these various developments and improvements, leveraging our experience in emergency management and trauma care and proffered suggestions on the way forward. The weakest part of the system is the pre-hospital component. The communities should be engaged and trained in the prevention and early recognition of emergencies, first aid treatment, and early access to the emergency care system. Efforts to increase the coverage of the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) in all the states and within the state will reduce emergency-related morbidity and mortality and improve treatment outcomes.