Govt avails 38 ambulances for Pope visit

KAMPALA.

The Ministry of Health on Thursday unveiled a fleet of 38 ambulances to be used to handle health emergences during the three days the Pope will spend in the country.

While flagging off the ambulances at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Health Minister Elioda Tumwesigye said each of the vehicles cost $60,000 (about Shs201m).
The ambulances will be stationed on roads leading to venues where the Pope shall be visiting.

“The venues will include Munyonyo, Namugongo, Kololo, Nalukolongo, and Entebbe, among others. [The ambulances are to help in the event of] health-related issues that may result from the crowds,” the minister said.

The procurement of the ambulances according to Dr Tumwesigye was a partnership between the ministry, Rubaga and Nsambya hospitals, Uganda Police Force and the UPDF.
Other 60 medical personnel, he said, have also been trained and deployed to deal with any emergencies that arise.

After the Popal visit, the ambulances, according to the minster, will be deployed to the National Ambulance Services (NAS), a department that has been established at Mulago Hospital to take control and regulate use of all ambulances across the country.
“We shall remove all ambulances from hospitals and put them under the NAS to be in convenient places where they can be easily accessible,” Dr Tumwesigye told journalists at the event that also saw the official launch of the NAS.

Health ministry permanent secretray, Dr Asuman Lukwago, said the NAS will be formalised a few weeks after the papal visit. It will start work in metropolitan Kampala, and its services will later expand to all the 112 districts in the country.

“Each district is expected to be covered by one ambulance but we are also working with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to get a national code which shall be used by the public in need of ambulance services,” Dr Lukwago said. Currently, people in distress or medical emergencies dial up the toll-free police hotline 999.

Pope itinerary
Today.

•Arrives at the Anglican Shrine in Namugongo at 8.30am.
•Arrives at the Uganda Catholic Martyrs Shrine at 9am, says a short private meditative prayer not exceeding 15 minutes and begin Mass.
•The Mass starts at 9.30am.Those intending to attend should have assembled by 6.30am.
•Addresses the youth at Kololo Inndence/Ceremonial Grounds at 3:15pm
•At 4.30pm, Pope will arrive at the Bakateyamba Home, Nalukolongo.
• Arrives at Rubaga Cathedral at 5pm for meeting with bishops and priests.