Senior Reporter
Dr. Abdon Birungi, the Chairperson of District Health Officers in Kigezi Sub-region, is confident that the recent donation of ambulances by the Ministry of Health will significantly improve the referral process for medical emergencies, with a particular focus on aiding mothers in labor and addressing critical cases in the area.
This optimism follows the allocation of five ambulances to the region, part of the 53 Type B ambulances procured by the Government and Development Partners and deployed to constituencies and hospitals across various districts.
The official flagging-off ceremony for these ambulances took place at the National Records Centre and Archives in Kampala, presided over by the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja. Among the beneficiaries in Kigezi Sub-region are the five districts of Kabale, Rubanda, Kisoro, Kanungu, and Rukungiri, while Rukiga District had already received its share.
Dr. Birungi emphasizes that these ambulances provide significant relief to address the challenges of patient inaccessibility in the region. Previously, many Health Center IV facilities had to rely on ambulances stationed at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, leading to difficulties in providing services to remote and hard-to-access locations during emergencies. Dr. Birungi underscores the importance of equipping Health Center IVs with their own ambulances, stating that this initiative will notably enhance the region’s referral system, especially for expectant mothers and accident victims.
Statistics indicate that out of the 353 constituencies, 192 now have ambulances, representing a coverage rate of 54%. Additionally, all 16 regional referral hospitals boast a 100% coverage rate.
