Lack of ambulances trouble patients

Community members within the Erongo region voiced their frustrations about the acute shortage of ambulances and called for urgent action to remedy the situation.The lack of reliable ambulance services has left many feeling vulnerable and underserved in times of crisis. Residents recounted harrowing experiences of waiting anxiously for ambulances to arrive during emergencies, with some resorting to desperate measures to transport loved ones to medical facilities.A Henties Bay resident, Gimelah van Wyk, reached out to Erongo 24/7 and expressed her disappointment about the “apparent” lack of ambulances and vehicles to transport patients within the region.Van Wyk and several residents of Henties Bay were allegedly transported to the Swakopmund State Hospital and Tamariskia Clinic for treatment.“The majority of their appointments were done by 13:00; however, we only arrived back in Henties Bay at 21:00. Once we were done, we had to go to the hospital again to wait for transport back, only to discover that the one vehicle is also being used to transport patients to and from Walvis and Arandis because there are no other vehicles available for transporting patients.”Rising concernsLocal hospitals, clinics, and emergency response teams are struggling to cope with the increasing demand for ambulance services.Health personnel have reported instances where critical patients have faced significant delays in receiving timely medical assistance due to the unavailability of ambulances. Such delays can have severe consequences, potentially risking lives and worsening medical conditions.According to the Erongo regional director of the ministry of health, Anna Jonas, this particular incident has not been reported to the customer care centre or to the senior medical staff.“Patients are advised to direct all complaints to the customer care centre or the nearest senior medical officer immediately,” she advised.A senior medical officer at Swakopmund State Hospital, David Tjiyokola, acknowledged that the lack of vehicles could result in a medical crisis.“The vehicles are old with mileages of over half a million, and they are not being replaced. The issue has been discussed since 2022. No sound development has, however, been made to prioritise the transportation needs in districts that serve other towns and referral points.”Members of the public are thus forced to resort to alternative methods of transportation in emergency cases to receive quick and prompt assistance.Call to actionUrgent measures are needed to boost ambulance services, including increasing funding, expanding fleet capacity, and implementing strategic solutions to improve response times.In light of these pressing concerns, community leaders, health professionals, and concerned citizens are calling on local authorities and government officials to prioritise the allocation of resources towards addressing the ambulance shortage.

Lack of ambulances trouble patients

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Republikein 2025-05-01

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Lack of ambulances trouble patients

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Republikein 2025-05-01

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