Mpumalanga health facilities get 39 new ambulances
The premier said the additional emergency medical vehicles will assist to improve the resources required to support the course of action taken by the health practitioners during emergencies.
The Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, unveiled 39 new emergency medical service vehicles at Mbombela Stadium on June 30.
The fleet cost over R45m. The vehicles were converted into conventional ambulances, mobile intensive care units, specialised psychiatric ambulances, primary response vehicles and patient transporters.
The premier was joined by the MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, the executive mayor of the City of Mbombela, Cllr Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko, and other officials.
Mtshweni-Tsipane said the funds used were from the current financial year.
“We had about 157 ambulances in the province, so we are adding to those. As the province, we made an undertaking that we need to increase that number by at least 10 a year. For the first time we have 10 ICU ambulances that will assist across the province, which is a great achievement for us. They do not only focus on adults, but are equipped to care for newborns and children. They are equipped with incubators for newborn babies”.
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“We have about 29 normal ambulances to augment the current fleet, so that we can reach as many people as possible. We have procured three mental health ambulances, so that these patients too can be transported in a much a safer and secure environment that suits their needs at the time. We have two rapid response ambulances because we are trying to avoid a situation in which there is an accident and there’s no prompt response, particularly if the person is trapped in the car,” she added.
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Mtshweni-Tsipane said through this upgrade the provincial government is determined to improve the resources required to support the course of action taken by the health practitioners during emergencies.
“The fleet will be distributed across the province and will be stationed in EMS stations supporting various health facilities. Emergency services are the first healthcare service to receive patients at the scene of an accident or a homestead. The increase in numbers and improvement of the services are paramount in improving response times to emergency calls and contribute in saving lives.”
