UGANDA STILL FACES A DEFICIT OF 325 STANDARDIZED AMBULANCES, RECIEVED A DONATION OF 25 FROM JAPAN

As Uganda’s population continue to grow huge, the health system continue to grapple with a number of challenges and among them is the inadequacy of the standard Ambulances that help to quickly respond to emergencies.

The minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Acheng while receiving a fleet of 25 type ‘B’ brand new standardized ambulances donated by government of Japan to Uganda at the ministries Headquarters said that the country is currently facing a deficit of 325. The country at least needs a total of 441 Ambulances if it’s to extend efficient and effective services to the citizens.  

Doctor Acheng said that the country now has  a fleet of only 116 Ambulances part of which have been procured by government and others received through donations from friendly governments like Japan and international agencies.

“ We are very much delighted to receive the donation and I have no doughty that they will enhance service delivery to our people. We have also written another proposal of more 25 Ambulance and have already been sent to Japan Embassy for your kind consideration.“ Dr. Aceng told the Japan’s Ambassador to Uganda.

She also said that the national Ambulances are distributed to constituencies not to individual hospitals and they are managed by the national Ambulance Command Centre at the referral hospitals of the respective regions. The 25 new ambulances that have just been received will also be distributed to 25 constituencies country wide and are awaiting approval by the cabinet.

According to Aceng, cabinet approved an emergency medical policy were a total of 544 ambulance are planned to be used in the rapid response to emergencies. These will include, 30 type ‘C’ (the advanced of specialized mobile units), Air and Water and 460 motor vehicle ambulances. She also said that she is hopeful that the deficit will be closed by 2025.

The minister also ordered the ministries transport officer to ensure that all government ambulances have tracking devices which will help to monitor their movements in order avoid misuse and she also called up the citizens to be vigilant and report any miss use of these facilities.

The Japan’s ambassador to Uganda, HE Fukuzawa Hidemoto while handing in the 25 ambulances cautioned government to service them well and also pledged to organize experts from his country to teach the man power that is going to man them.

He said that they were procured at a cost of US$ 3.8 million (Ushs 14.06 billion) curtsy of Japan’s tax payers through the Jaica organization.

He said that the donation was supposed to send to Uganda in 2020 but because of the Covid-19 pandemic, his country was unable to fulfill its pledge due to the shutdown of the economies.

By George Bukenya

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