Ambulance crisis in Karas Region

THE Keetmanshoop State Hospital – the second biggest in the country – has been without an ambulance for three weeks.

The local ambulance, which had more than 400 000 km on its odometer, was grounded three weeks ago after it broke down repeatedly. After Governor Dawid Boois intervened, an ambulance was sent from Karasburg yesterday to transport people with medical emergencies to the Windhoek Central State Hospital.A reliable source told The Namibian that new vehicles are only allocated to the regional health office.According to the source, most of the vehicles allocated to the hospital have done over 300 000 km.”Our calls to replace the old vehicles with new ones have fallen on deaf ears,” the source added.The source said two hospital drivers were issued with warnings after they had used the vehicles allocated to the regional office.A nurse at the hospital, who wanted to remain anonymous, said patients had to be transported on the back of a bakkie because of the lack of an ambulance.The superintendent of the Keetmanshoop Hospital, Dr Maxim Verkusha, said: “The Hospital management is aware of the problem and held several meetings aimed at resolving the ambulance crisis.”He declined further comment.Outlying clinics are also affected by the ambulance crisis.The Keetmanshoop health district has seven primary health care clinics – two at Keetmanshoop and one each at Berseba, Tses, Aroab, Koës and Bethanie.After Governor Dawid Boois intervened, an ambulance was sent from Karasburg yesterday to transport people with medical emergencies to the Windhoek Central State Hospital.A reliable source told The Namibian that new vehicles are only allocated to the regional health office.According to the source, most of the vehicles allocated to the hospital have done over 300 000 km.”Our calls to replace the old vehicles with new ones have fallen on deaf ears,” the source added.The source said two hospital drivers were issued with warnings after they had used the vehicles allocated to the regional office.A nurse at the hospital, who wanted to remain anonymous, said patients had to be transported on the back of a bakkie because of the lack of an ambulance.The superintendent of the Keetmanshoop Hospital, Dr Maxim Verkusha, said: “The Hospital management is aware of the problem and held several meetings aimed at resolving the ambulance crisis.”He declined further comment.Outlying clinics are also affected by the ambulance crisis.The Keetmanshoop health district has seven primary health care clinics – two at Keetmanshoop and one each at Berseba, Tses, Aroab, Koës and Bethanie.