Government has decided to distribute all 275 ambulances in January 2020, Minister for Special Development Initiative, Mavis Hawa Koomson has said.
The reason, she explained, is to ensure a fair distribution of the ambulances across all 275 constituencies in the country.
The first 48 ambulances, which arrived months ago are parked at the forecourt of the Parliament House in Accra.
Many, including Members of Parliament, have questioned the delay in the distribution of the ambulances which are in short supply in health centres across the country.
Currently, there are less than 100 functional ambulances operating in some parts of the country and it has forced many people to resort to the use of either commercial or private vehicles as ambulances to convey injured or sick persons to hospitals during an emergency.
The arrival of about 48 ambulances as promised by the Akufo-Addo government brought some respite to citizens but the delay in distribution is causing some panic.
However, Hon. Hawa Koomson on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme, Monday said there is no cause for alarm.
She explained that they are fixing tracking devices in the vehicles to ensure it is used for its intended purpose.
The Special Development Initiative added that there are arrangements with the manufacturers to also set up a maintenance and spare parts unit in Ghana to deal with mechanical faults once they occur.
She disclosed that they are expected to take delivery of 300 ambulances before the end of the year to boost the operations of the National Ambulance Service and help improve emergency healthcare in Ghana.
Source: adomonline.com