Health Ministry Agrees to Shift Boat Ambulance to Buvuma
Written by admin on August 18, 2021
The Health Ministry has succumbed to pressure from Buvuma district officials to relocate one of the modern water ambulances procured by the government from Entebbe to the district to respond to emergencies.
The decision was reached in a zoom meeting between Buvuma District Health Officer, Dr. Baker Kanyike, Buikwe Resident District Commissioner, Godfrey Tirutya, LC V Chairperson, Adrian Wasswa Ddungu, the Chief Administrative Officer, Moses Ochuna, Member of Parliament among others and health Ministry officials led by the Commissioner Emergency Services, John Baptist Wanyaye.
During the meeting, Buvuma officials raised concern why the Ministry continues keeping the water boat ambulance meant for the district in Entebbe yet they have health emergencies to attend to in the islands.
The LC V Chairperson, Adrian Wasswa Ddungu, said that it was unfair for the Ministry to station the ambulance in Entebbe without clear reasons.
Buikwe Resident District Commissioner, Godfrey Tirutya, says that during the meeting the commissioner raised several issues including the safety and maintenance of the ambulance. He, however, revealed that they explained to the Commissioner that there is a very long distance between Entebbe and Buvuma, which would affect the response time to respond to emergencies and increase operational costs in terms of fuel consumption.
He also allayed the fears of safety for the ambulance, saying that they are currently providing security to various government projects including the ferry and State lodge among others. Buikwe District Health Officer, Dr. Baker Kanyike, said that the new vehicle ambulance donated by Buvuma Member of Parliament, Robert Migadde will operate from Kiyindi landing site.
Migadde revealed that they also asked the Health Ministry to provide them with a vehicle ambulance. He noted that based on the nature of Buvuma district, they need two-vehicle ambulances.
In July, through her tweeter account, the Deputy Prime Minister, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga informed the country that the government through the Ministry of Health had purchased eleven modern water ambulances and three of them had already arrived in the country.
