As the Christmas festival season approaches, several parts of the country are busy in preparation to celebrate but it comes with many challenges of emergency nature that may require swift response. The Ministry of Health Recently distributed ambulances to almost 120 constituencies in Uganda to boost their capacity towards this course.
In the Karamoja region, however, some politicians are being faulted for interfering with the ambulance services that are badly needed to save lives. Their interference if not checked will cost lives due to individual interests.
According to a source that preferred anonymity from Kaabong district, when they received the Ambulance from the Ministry of Health, a Member of Parliament representing the IK people, Hon. Hillary Lokwang had instructed that it should not be used until they (politicians) officially launch it in the constituency.
The source added that they had an emergency case of a mother who needed to be attended to but due to the directive of the leader, there was some delay while responsible authorities made phone calls to seek permission so that the ambulance could be used.
When KaramojaNews contacted Hon. Hilary Lokwang, he said his directive was misunderstood by those faulting him. The MP clarified that he cannot allow people to die yet they have a service to be utilised.
“I agreed with my area Woman MP that we would launch this Ambulance together so that we sensitise the community to understand that sometimes they may have to pay something because the government give little money to fuel these Ambulances,” Hon. Hillary told Etop.
He added that the launch and sensitisation were necessary because his constituents were used to his Ambulance service that was free of charge and as such the need to create awareness on how the current one will operate.
According to the Chairman Karenga district, Hon. Felix Mark Lochale, sometimes politicians come in due to complaints from the local populations over claims of being extorted by some ambulance drivers but he urged leaders to use better channels in handling such matters instead of frustrating the services.
Mr Lochale said the lack of emergency services (ambulance) had affected his district so much, yet the distance to the nearest health facilities from homesteads is more than 15km. He added that with the Ministry of Health responding, people and lives will be saved.
He only decried that the state of roads in the region due to the hilly terrain remains the only biggest hurdle to access the most needy people in the kraals.
Other leaders being accused are in Abim district for refusing Abim Hospital to host the ambulance.
Another accusation is directed to a district official who is refusing to hand a fuel card to health officials to use it in transporting expectant mothers in need of emergency services.
The Ministry of Health recently distributed 116 type “B” ambulances it procured for emergency services and distributed them to each of the benefiting district in Uganda. The initiative reflects the
government’s dedication to transforming the health sector in Uganda, addressing critical gaps in emergency services.
