Lack Of Ambulances Is Shocking

MY dearest President Hifikepunye Pohamba, I strongly believe that since the people you have appointed to run the Ministry of Health and Social Services are not performing according to our expectations, it’s time for you to step in again.

Mr President, on November 4 2007 around 15h30 I witnessed a serious car accident about 40 km from Usakos on the Trans-Kalahari highway. Five people were seriously injured and I immediately phoned Usakos hospital and Swakopmund hospital to send ambulances.About one hour later, two twin-cab bakkies belonging to the Ministry of Health arrived from Usakos, one with registration number GRN 27444 and another with ‘VCT, PMTCT, ARV Programmes donated by PEPFAR’ written on its front doors.Both drivers were wearing dirty T-shirts, shorts and sandals and they both claimed to be ambulance drivers.The two nurses who accompanied them looked totally confused, they did not even know what to do or were to start, since these bakkies had no first-aid boxes.I took it upon myself and asked the two non-uniformed ambulance drivers (looking like botsotsos) and the two nurses why they did not come with ambulances.I was shocked to hear that Usakos Hospital, Karibib Hospital and Otjimbingwe Health Centre have been operating for the past 18 months without ambulances.They have been using the same two bakkies as ambulances.GOD HELP US! Namibians, this stretch of the road I am talking about has at least one serious accident every week and yet the hospitals have no basic tools like ambulances.The festive season is just around the corner.During this period accident victims will be will still be carried in these bakkies.My problem is that the two bakkies could not accommodate the only two stretchers well, they had to carry patients with their legs hanging outside.No wonder one patient died upon arrival.Really, I could not believe what my eyes were seeing.I’m one person who did not believe all the bad things people said in the media about MoHSS earlier this year, now I totally believe and understand.Mr President, I am earnestly appealing to you ask Dr Kamwii (Minister, MoHSS) and Mr Kahuure (Permanent Secretary, MoHSS) to: 1) Secure at least two fully equipped ambulances for these two hospitals mentioned above before the festive season begins; 2) Train ambulance drivers and nurses at these two hospitals in first aid techniques; 3) Ask the Ministry of Local Government to re-introduce emergency services in all the municipalities throughout the country.At the moment it’s only the Windhoek Municipality Emergency Service that is fully operational all the others are partially operational or non-existent, as is the case in Usakos and Karibib.I believe private companies like the mines that are near the hospitals also have a social responsibility.The CEOs of such companies should take this up as a challenge, I hope one listens and tries to plough back part of their profits into the community.Am sure the communities of Karibib, Usakos and Otjimbingwe will appreciate very much if they are to receive donations in form of ambulances.Mr President, I have a feeling that MoHSS is concentrating more on HIV-AIDS programmes and neglecting other areas like ambulance services.Finally, a word to the two ambulances drivers without uniforms and the two nurses, should you find me, my wife or any of my four children in an accident with your bakkies, please don’t even touch me, just call Emed 24 or International SOS ambulance.Johannes Angula Walvis BayFive people were seriously injured and I immediately phoned Usakos hospital and Swakopmund hospital to send ambulances.About one hour later, two twin-cab bakkies belonging to the Ministry of Health arrived from Usakos, one with registration number GRN 27444 and another with ‘VCT, PMTCT, ARV Programmes donated by PEPFAR’ written on its front doors.Both drivers were wearing dirty T-shirts, shorts and sandals and they both claimed to be ambulance drivers.The two nurses who accompanied them looked totally confused, they did not even know what to do or were to start, since these bakkies had no first-aid boxes.I took it upon myself and asked the two non-uniformed ambulance drivers (looking like botsotsos) and the two nurses why they did not come with ambulances.I was shocked to hear that Usakos Hospital, Karibib Hospital and Otjimbingwe Health Centre have been operating for the past 18 months without ambulances.They have been using the same two bakkies as ambulances.GOD HELP US! Namibians, this stretch of the road I am talking about has at least one serious accident every week and yet the hospitals have no basic tools like ambulances.The festive season is just around the corner.During this period accident victims will be will still be carried in these bakkies.My problem is that the two bakkies could not accommodate the only two stretchers well, they had to carry patients with their legs hanging outside.No wonder one patient died upon arrival.Really, I could not believe what my eyes were seeing.I’m one person who did not believe all the bad things people said in the media about MoHSS earlier this year, now I totally believe and understand.Mr President, I am earnestly appealing to you ask Dr Kamwii (Minister, MoHSS) and Mr Kahuure (Permanent Secretary, MoHSS) to: 1) Secure at least two fully equipped ambulances for these two hospitals mentioned above before the festive season begins; 2) Train ambulance drivers and nurses at these two hospitals in first aid techniques; 3) Ask the Ministry of Local Government to re-introduce emergency services in all the municipalities throughout the country.At the moment it’s only the Windhoek Municipality Emergency Service that is fully operational all the others are partially operational or non-existent, as is the case in Usakos and Karibib.I believe private companies like the mines that are near the hospitals also have a social responsibility.The CEOs of such companies should take this up as a challenge, I hope one listens and tries to plough back part of their profits into the community.Am sure the communities of Karibib, Usakos and Otjimbingwe will appreciate very much if they are to receive donations in form of ambulances.Mr President, I have a feeling that MoHSS is concentrating more on HIV-AIDS programmes and neglecting other areas like ambulance services.Finally, a word to the two ambulances drivers without uniforms and the two nurses, should you find me, my wife or any of my four children in an accident with your bakkies, please don’t even touch me, just call Emed 24 or International SOS ambulance.Johannes Angula Walvis Bay