Nabbanja Flags Off Over 100 Type B Ambulances
The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja has today flagged off over 100 type B ambulances (emergency basic life support ambulances) meant to be received by various constituencies.
This was in an effort to fulfill the manifesto to have functional National ambulance services implemented across the country to provide emergency services to patients.
This dispatch happened at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala.
As a fulfillment of the government’s hopes to have a strong fleet of ambulances that can respond to emergencies in real-time across the country, the prime minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja has today flagged a total of 116 ambulances with fuel cards: 7 already in their intended destinations, 53 dispatched today, and the rest expected to be distributed by the end of February next year to the different constituencies.
Nabbanja confirmed that this is a step towards the delivery of the manifesto of having a functional National ambulance service as the government promised.
The Prime Minister, together with the Health Ministry’s officials advocated for the proper management of the ambulances, condemning those who divert them for different purposes/use.
With the country still requiring a batch of efficient and fully equipped ambulances to handle the potential of a hospital ICU and having only 14 air ambulances, the Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Acen, noted that they will put more emphasis on the attainment of more air ambulances next year.
The permanent secretary of the health ministry, Dr. Diana Atwine noted that these vehicles have played a significant role in the reduction of maternal deaths. She thus called on the government to ensure their support with funds, to handle among other things, fueling the ambulances.
The chairperson of the Health Committee of Parliament, however, emphasized the need for the government to be concerned about Health Center 4s for the betterment of the people’s health care.
Atwine recounted the cost of the ambulances attained under the Japanese Government Donation amounting to USD80,000.
