Uganda Red Cross gets 10 ambulances from government
The fleet of 10 ambulances donated to the Red Cross Society by the government of Uganda to support emergency response activities along major highways in Uganda. PHOTO BY KELVIN ATUHAIRE
Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda on Friday handed over 10 ambulances to the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS).
The ambulances will be used to respond to emergencies and accidents on Uganda’s major highways.
The ambulances that are classified and equipped as class B, are valued at Shs2 billion.
They were bought by the URCS with funding from the government.
"This collaboration is crucial because Red Cross has the capacity and there is already substantial evidence of emergency response gaps like Bududa [landslides] and the recent COVID-19 pandemic," Dr Ruganda said.
The government availed Shs8 billion to URCS to ensure targeted service delivery.
"It is our dream that in the next three years we shall have a fleet for every region with call centres. We hope that these ambulances are centrally managed," Dr Dian Atwine, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health, said.
Mr Robert Kwesiga, the secretary general of URCS said the ambulances will provide emergency services on Kampala-Masaka, Mbarara-Kabale, Lira-Mbale, Kamppala-Gulu, Kampala-Malaba highways while two vans will serve Kampala Metropolitan area.
The emergency medical services project is expected to have a fleet of 20 ambulances.
