Homa Bay to procure a boat ambulance to improve referral system

Homa Bay, Tuesday, 18, April 2023,

K.N.A By Sitna Omar

The County Government of Homa Bay has procured a boat ambulance worth Sh. 8 million in a bid to improve the medical referral response for Residents within the 10 islands of the county.

The ambulance which is fully equipped was procured by the County Government with the support of the Transforming Health Services (THS) and the World Bank to boost referrals within the county.

The residents of the islands who until now have been having challenges while transporting patients across the lake during referrals will no longer have to worry.

The County Executive Member for Health (CEC) Roselyne Omollo said the boat ambulance is fully equipped to meet the needs of patients in critical conditions.

The CEC was speaking at the county headquarters after the commissioning of the ambulance by Governor Gladys Wanga.

She said the department strives to increase and improve the referral system and that the ambulance will go a long way in helping them provide the required services to patients.

With the ambulance, patients in critical conditions will now be able to get medical attention while being rushed to hospitals.

The Chief Officer Health Kevin Osuri said the ambulance is a mobile critical unit and will provide the services of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while transporting patients to health facilities or referring them to high level facilities.

“It will be able to transport patients supporting their critical function from one health facility to another,” he noted.

Governor Wanga on her part noted that health is a major priority for her administration, and that they put resources where their priorities are.

“We continue to put our best foot forward as far as health services are concerned,” she said.

The county is also moving to improve its other 17 ambulances which are not equipped to upgrade them from just being vehicles to ambulances as Wanga pointed out.

The ambulances will be equipped with critical facilities and elements that will enable patients to be monitored as they are moved to health facilities.

The health department further plans on setting up an emergency operation center that will ease communication with the public in terms of referrals through a common contact number. 

Courtesy K.N.A