Bukomansimbi leaders reject Shs220m ambulance donated to district

Leaders in Bukomansimbi District in central Uganda have rejected an ambulance that was donated to the district by government three months ago.
Mr Muhammad Kateregga, the district chairperson said the decision was taken by the district council after learning that the ambulance did not have requisite facilities for emergency services.

“The stretcher bed compartment is very small and a patient cannot feel comfortable while inside and above all, there is no space for the person attending to the patient,” Mr Kateregga told this reporter on Saturday.
The ambulance cost Shs220m which was sourced from Korea Foundation for International Health Care (KOFIH). Mr Kateregga said they want the ambulance to be replaced with another one.

KOFIH also constructed an emergency ward at Butenga Health Centre IV in the same district and equipped it with modern X-ray, radiology machines, delivery beds and surgical equipment among others. The health centre also received three motorcycles.
Bukomansimbi District Speaker, Mr James Muhabwa said they are making arrangements to return the ambulance to Kampala so that they can get another one with enough space and fitted with all required medical equipment to handle emergencies.

“The chair in the ambulance meant for the nurse/doctor is facing contrary to where it is supposed to face. We shall not allow the ambulance to remain here. Let them do what is best for us,” Mr Muhabwa said.

However, Bukomansimbi Chief Administrative Officer Mr Asuman Masereka faulted Mr Kateregga and other councillors saying they are not mechanical engineers to determine the required standard of the ambulance.

“How can a councilor say that the ambulance is not of the required standard when he or she is not an engineer? We shall look at the documents sent with the vehicle and see whether the supplier changed anything,” he noted.
He said the ambulance was donated to the district to boost government effort to handle emergencies and referral system in Masaka Sub Region.
Ministry of Health Spokesperson, Mr Emmanuel Ainebyona advised the district leaders to formally write to the ministry so that their concern can be addressed.

“Let the district chairperson put his observations officially in writing. The permanent secretary will then find a solution to how best to use the ambulance,” he said.
While handing over the ambulance to district officials in June this year, the minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng said the ministry had developed an emergency medical services policy that provides for improvement of emergency medical services from the scene of emergency, transportation to the accident and emergency units at the health facility level.

“This is in accordance to the World Health Emergency Care Framework. It provides for need to register and certify all ambulances so that we have ambulance vehicles that meet national and international standards,” the minister said then.
Butenga Health Centre IV, where the ambulance is supposed to be stationed handles at least 130 deliveries every month and two cesarean sections operations on average.
The health centre is the biggest in the district and receives at least 700 people at the outpatient department and another 250 seek antenatal care services every month.

Recently, Bukomansimbi District council passed a resolution to elevate the facility to hospital level, but Mr Kateregga says upgrading the facility should be halted until management at the facility is restructured.
Bukomansimbi has seven public health centres of which one is at the level of health centre IV. These include; Butega Health Centre IV, Mirambi Health Centre III ,Kitanda Health Centre III ,Bigasa Health Centre III .Others are Kagongo Health Centre II , Kigangazi Health Centre.

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