President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government is procuring 100 new ambulances to augment and restock the depleted fleet of the National Ambulance Service. Beyond the new acquisition, the President highlighted a parallel initiative targeting 100 broken-down emergency vehicles currently off the roads, emphasizing that securing necessary spare parts will swiftly restore them to active service. The twin-track approach aims to immediately bolster emergency response readiness and address critical gaps in pre-hospital care across Ghana.
The announcement was made during the 68th Annual National General Conference of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), held at Miotso near Prampram in the Greater Accra Region. Addressing healthcare professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, President Mahama stressed that efficient medical logistics are fundamental to protecting public health and preventing avoidable loss of life during medical emergencies.
The procurement drive comes at a critical juncture following severe maintenance challenges that crippled the country's emergency fleet. Under the previous administration's "One Constituency One Ambulance" initiative, 307 ambulances were distributed nationwide. However, a widespread culture of inadequate vehicle maintenance led to a high attrition rate, leaving a majority of the fleet inoperative and significantly weakening emergency health delivery across many districts.
By pairing fresh procurement with a clear repair regimen for existing vehicles, the government aims to establish a sustainable management framework for emergency medical transport. Rebuilding the National Ambulance Service fleet is expected to reduce emergency response times, strengthen referral systems between primary facilities and regional hospitals, and improve health outcomes for patients nationwide.
@Volta Today
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