Govt deploys 10 ambulances on major highways

HEALTH 

The Prime Minister of Uganda, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, has flagged off 10 ambulances that will provide emergency services on some Uganda's major highways.

Procured by Uganda Red Cross, with funding from Government of Uganda, the fully equipped ambulances cost sh2b.

"This is a big achievement for our country. This collaboration is crucial because Uganda Red Cross has the capacity. There is already substantial evidence with Bududa, recently when we were faced with the COVID-19 response pandemic," Rugunda said.  

The ambulances classified as class B, are aimed at improving emergency and accident response along major highways in Uganda.

The ambulances will provide emergency services on the highways of Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara- Kabale, Lira-Mbale, Kampala-Gulu, Kampala-Malaba and two will be stationed in the Kampala Metropolitan Area.

The project is expected to have a fleet of 20 ambulances for emergency medical services on the major highways.

"It is our dream that in the next three years we shall have a fleet for every region with call centres. We hope that these ambulances are centrally managed," said the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine.

The World Health Organisation emergency care assessment in 2017 indicated that only 25 per cent of Ugandans access ambulance vehicles.

Uganda has a total of 220 black spots on highways where accidents are likely to occur which need 24/7 ambulance coverage. In 2018/19, 3,500 people died as a result of traffic accident injuries.