Ambulances On High Ways Are Welcome
In Order To Expedite Evacuations On High Ways, Ministry Of Health Has Availed 21 Ambulances On High Ways
Uganda Today: On December 28, 2022, a Mercedes-Benz Actros trailer registration number RAF 168S/RL 1426 had a rear tire burst at Kaganda towards Kyojja swamp in Kinoni, Lwengo district, along the Masaka-Mbarara highway.
The trailer lost control, crossing over to the lane of oncoming vehicles, where it smashed Toyota Hiace and Mark II vehicles, killing nine people on the spot.
The survivors, who were bleeding profusely, were pronounced dead as they arrived at the hospital.
The casualties, without any first aid or medical care, had been dumped on police pickup trucks for evacuation to hospitals.
One of the main reasons for the high death toll rates on Ugandan road arising from accidents has always been the poor response of emergency services to crash scenes.
But the Health Ministry now says the situation is changing with the deployment of 21 type B ambulances across the highways in Uganda.
“The Ministry of Health has taken the response to the highway road traffic crashes as one of the key outputs of the emergency care response team,” said Health Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona on Friday afternoon.
“The MOH has partnered with the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) to establish a responsive EMS system along the highways and, to date, has placed 21 type B ambulances across the highways in Uganda,” he added.
Uganda loses over 3,500 people due to road traffic crashes.
The type B ambulance has a lot of storage space, which allows safe accommodation of the necessary advanced emergency equipment.
It also comprises a storage cupboard for an oxygen cylinder, drawers, an air conditioning unit, and a fold-up sit-on partition wall, among others.
Ainebyoona said the Health Ministry will establish one national and 16 ambulance stations (call and dispatch centers) in which ambulance vehicles are serviced and refilled with equipment and medicines and health supplies.
