Marine ambulances to be delivered to beneficiary districts – Nabbanja

The Marine ambulances that have been stuck at the UPDF Marines Brigade in Entebbe will be delivered to the beneficiary districts starting next week, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has said.

Nabbanja said the 13 ambulances will be distributed to l3 districts where the Ministry of Health has already identified docking sites.

The government of Uganda together with development partners procured 14 marine ambulances for emergency services in the islands in May but to date, they had not been delivered due to lack of finances.

State Minister for Primary Health Care Margaret Muhanga told Parliament on Tuesday that the ministry lacked the finances to transport them to their destinations.

The procured ambulances were flagged off 3 months ago by President Yoweri Museveni at the UPDF Marines Brigade in Entebbe.

“We procured 14 ambulances but 2 are yet to come. We have not been able to deliver them to their destination because of lack of operational funds. Since Parliament is in charge of appropriating, we appeal to you to get us this money. We need wheel loaders and couriers to deliver them,” she said.

Parliament directed Nabbanja to immediately resolve the matter. In a statement, Nabbanja said the marine ambulance for Ntoroko district and Notional Medical Stores (NMS) will be delivered in the first week of October 2022.

The beneficiary districts include; Obongi (R. NiIe), Serere (L. Kyoga), Kumi (L. Bisino), Amolatar (L. Kwania), Kalangala (L. Victoria), Buvuma (L. Victoria), Jinja (L. Victoria/ R. Nile), Mukono (L. Victoria), Namayingo (L. Nansonko), Buliisa (L. Albert), Mayuge (L. Victoria), Kabale (L. Bunyonyi), Ntoroko (L. Albert).

“In the meeting, I held on August 24, 2022, with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and agreed that the defence ministry will provide currier trucks with hooks to transport these marine ambulances to different districts,” she said.

Nabbanja said the launching of these ambulances will commence next week August 31, 2022, starting with Jinja and Mayuge districts and all others will receive their ambulances on September 13, 2022.

She said sh4billion was appropriated for emergence services in the country, part of this money will be used to facilitate the operations of the marine ambulances.

“Government is committed to provide emergency medical care to people living on islands,” she said.