Health Officials of Region 10 on Tuesday morning received a newly commissioned Water Ambulance from the Ministry of Public Health, at the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown.
The $16M Water Ambulance is equipped with all that is needed for transporting emergency patients to the McKenzie Linden Hospital from Kwakwani and surrounding riverain areas.
Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence said it is in keeping with the Ministry’s mandate to provide efficient health care to the citizens of the country.
“This 16-foot boat that we call a river ambulance is equipped to administer the necessary services to a patient who may be having respiratory problems, who needs to be monitored, there is a monitor in there to ensure that all the signs and so on,” Minister Lawrence said.
“This is more larger in terms of the internal space so it provides for more oxygen tanks, more back up batteries and also a large storage area so they can store more medical supplies,” Minister Lawrence said.
Regional Health Officer, Dr. Pansy Armstrong said, “It will benefit the residents of Region10 that live in the Berbice River. Riverain areas have their own challenges getting from point A to point B and as the health team do their outreaches, it will cater for emergencies.”
The Regional Health Officer said it is the policy of the Ministry to provide universal health care and, “if the residents can’t reach us, we will have to reach them.”
The Regional Health Officer said since it is costly to move around the areas, the ambulance will be used mainly for emergencies and medical outreaches. The ambulance will also be stationed in Kwakwani.
Last year communities like Orealla and Bartica also received Water Ambulances.
