Child Born With Abnormality Dies Due To Lack Of Ambulance For Referral; Government Donates New Ambulance To Bwera General Hospital

By Ivan Kaahwa

The Ministry of Health has delivered an ambulance to Bwera General Hospital in Kasese District, aiming to enhance emergency transportation services for individuals in need of efficient referral.

This follows a prolonged demand for an ambulance, prompted by a previous incident where the hospital’s ambulance caught fire while transporting a patient to Mulago National Referral Hospital where both the driver and patient died.

The Minister of State for National Guidance, Godfrey Kabbyanga, formally handed over the ambulance to the management of Bwera General Hospital. He emphasized that the ambulance is a donation from the government and President Yoweri Museveni to the people of Bukonzo West.

Kabbyanga noted that the new ambulance would be available for use by neighboring districts whenever there is a need for support. He clarified that the ambulance is part of a pool for health sub-districts of Bukonzo West but is supervised by the regional referral hospital in Buhinga.

The administrator of Bwera Hospital, Clarance Bwambale Mumbahya, reported the loss of lives due to the lack of ambulance services for patient referrals. He revealed that a child born with abnormalities a week before this story’s publication needed a referral to Mbarara for further management.

Without an ambulance readily available at the hospital, they sought support from sister institutions, requiring Shs 800,000 for fuel and facilitation for the drivers. Fuel was mobilized and placed in the Katwe Health Center ambulance. However, upon arriving at the hospital, the child had already passed away, despite the ambulance returning with the raised fuel.

The government has distributed close to 112 new ambulances to various government hospitals across the country, addressing the shortfall in ambulance services.

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