Rugunda warns over misuse of ambulances
Jun 27, 2014
ealth Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has warned districts against misuse of ambulances
By Violet Nabatanzi
Health minister, D. Ruhakana Rugunda, has warned districts against misuse of ambulances.
Speaking during the handover of two ambulances worth sh160m each to Koboko and Buhweju districts, Rugunda said if the people mishandle the ambulances, they would have disqualified themselves from getting additional support.
“This is fulfilling the presidential pledge, to people of Koboko and Buhweju. Maintain them very well because after five years we will be replacing them. The people from these districts should ensure that the ambulances serve the purpose for which it is allocated, especially to help the expectant mothers, children, and referral systems so that the suffering of people is relieved,” Rugunda said Thursday afternoon.
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Rugunda says the ambulances will be tracked for mileage. Photo/Peter Busomoke
The minister also commended Belgian Cooperation for their continued support towards government projects.
Health ministry permanent secretary, Dr. Asuman Lukwago, said the ambulances will be monitored for proper use.
Buhweju woman Member of Parliament Oliver Katwesigye commended the President for the ambulance donation.
“This Ambulance comes at the right time, previously my district didn’t have any ambulance to transport expectant mothers and sick people to health facilities,” she added.
Hassan Nginya, Koboko LCV chairman, said the district has been facing a challenge of transporting patients given a a big number of refugees from South Sudan and Congo.
He said: “The Ambulance will improve reproductive health in in Villages where they ahve been hiring Boda-Bodas in a way of rushing the patients to health center IV,”
The Acting district health officer, (DHO) Charles Akonyu said Malaria, Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS are some of the common diseases in the district.
Akonyu said previously the whole district had only one Ambulance.
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