Two new ambulances donated to Ministry of Health

The Minister of Health, St Clair Prince has made a call for the “elements of abuse” which has affected the current fleet of ambulances to come to an end with the newest additions.

Two new ambulances were officially handed over to the Ministry of Health on Tuesday, October 31 as part Public Health Emergency Response System Enhancement Project, a four-year program done in collaboration with Taiwan (ICDF) and the MacKay Memorial Hospital.

The ambulances are being designated to two health centres, the Stubbs Polyclinic and the Levi Latham Health Complex but, as explained by the Minister, will be utilized across the country as needed along with the existing eight ambulances.

The Minister disclosed that an additional two ambulances are to be added to the fleet under the Maria Holder Foundation and will be assigned to the North Windward.

An external view of one of the new Ambulances

During his remarks at the handover ceremony, Minister Prince said the Ministry is working towards “fruitful outcomes” in the project which is set to close in 2025.

“These additions to the ambulance fleet are expected to bolster emergency response capabilities … and improve health outcomes,” the Minister said, also noting that it serves the purpose of decentralizing the emergency response services.

The ambulances are equipped with oxygen cylinders and flow meters, suction machines, fire extinguishers, solar flashlights, defibrillators, first aid kits, vital signs monitors, mobile ventilators and basic tool kits. Staff at the health centers have been trained in the use of the ambulances and the Minister said he hopes proper care will be given to the vehicles.

“I hope that the people who will be operating these two ambulances will take care of them because we have had some elements of abuse in the past and I wish that we will improve on that. These are very expensive ambulances and important to our emergency response system.”

Initiatives done under the Public Health Emergency Response System Enhancement Project, which had an estimated budget of 1.8 million US dollars, also included the training of 16 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT’s) taken from first responders in health, police and fire with plans to add the Coast Guard next year.