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Tag: ambulances

  • Health Ministry receives 26 Toyota hiace rapid response ambulances

    Health Ministry receives 26 Toyota hiace rapid response ambulances

    The Minister of Health, Dr. Okoe-Boye, has announced the procurement of 26 Toyota Hiace rapid response ambulances to boost the country’s emergency medical services.

    These ambulances were funded by the World Bank. Dr Okoe-Boye made this known during a press briefing on Wednesday, September 18, where he provided an update on empowering healthcare through strategic policy towards Universal Health Coverage.

    “We have some new ambulances that have also come. I know if I go on and on about ambulances, you’ll ask me more questions, so let me move on,” he said with a lighthearted comment as he shared the update on the new fleet.

    The images of these ambulances surfaced last year, when some individuals claimed that an ambulance belonging to the government was being sold in the United Arab Emirates. The Ghana Ambulance Service in response urged the general public to disregard claims.

    “The said Ambulance is found on the premises of the company, which is manufacturing the ambulances. It is, therefore, not true that the Ambulance is there for sale. The manufacturing processes are over and very soon the ambulances will be shipped to Ghana,” a statement from the Ghana Ambulance Service dated May 29, 2023, explained.

    This acquisition forms part of a broader initiative by the Ministry to improve the National Ambulance Service’s response capacity in critical health emergencies across the country.

    Dr. Okoe-Boye also noted the importance of specialized training in emergency healthcare, mentioning the role of the Ambulance Training School.

    “We have the ambulance training school, where we train our emergency physicians and paramedics,” he said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to building a robust emergency response system.

    Dr Okoe-Boye reiterated the Government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery across Ghana by completing vital infrastructure projects and integrating digital solutions.

    He highlighted the Government’s efforts to ensure that more healthcare facilities become operational, bringing medical services closer to communities nationwide.

    He concluded by emphasizing the Government’s determination to ensure that every Ghanaian has access to quality healthcare.

    “We are working tirelessly to operationalize more facilities and bring healthcare closer to the people,” the Health Minister said.

    Presently, the government is working on the construction and completion of the Dodowa, Kumawu, Fomena and Takoradi European Flat hospitals and the commissioning of phase 2 of the Bolgatanga Hospital at a cost of $20 million.

  • First 50 ambulances not intended for immediate usage due to warranty conditions – Jakpa

    First 50 ambulances not intended for immediate usage due to warranty conditions – Jakpa

    Third accused individual in the ongoing ambulance procurement case, Richard Jakpa, informed the court that the initial shipment of ambulances sent to Ghana were still under warranty and were not meant for immediate deployment.

    His statement was made during his cross-examination on Thursday, June 13, by the legal team representing Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the first accused in the case.

    Jakpa clarified that the ambulances were covered by a comprehensive warranty agreement, which outlined specific conditions, including the requirement for thorough inspections and necessary adjustments before they could be put into use.

    This measure was taken to ensure compliance with operational standards and safety requirements.

    He further explained that relevant authorities in Ghana overseeing the inspection process were aware of the terms of the warranty agreement and were responsible for overseeing the inspection and commissioning process.

    Jakpa indicated that clear instructions were given that the ambulances should not be used until these procedures were completed, which he described as a standard protocol for such deliveries to guarantee their full functionality and safety.

    During his testimony, Jakpa also addressed concerns regarding the readiness and condition of the ambulances upon their arrival, stating that premature utilization would have violated the terms of the warranty and could have compromised their effectiveness.

    He added that the shipping company responsible for the delivery, Big Sea, was ready to install the necessary accessories and conduct training for paramedics.

    Once the accessories, currently held at the port, were cleared, Big Sea would proceed with these installations and training sessions, ensuring that the ambulances are fully operational and ready for government use.

  • Man dies after being “victimized with hammer for his Rolex”

    Man dies after being “victimized with hammer for his Rolex”

    As per reports, a guy was killed after being attacked for his expensive watch during a daylight heist.

    Once the victim was discovered yesterday shortly before 3 o’clock in a severe state, emergency services were summoned to the Heath Way in Shard End, Birmingham.

    Despite their best efforts, the man was declared dead at the site.

    Witnesses claimed the man, who is thought to be in his 50s, was hit with a hammer or another weapon outside a row of stores for his Rolex watch.

    One onlooker, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘A 50-year-old bloke has been attacked with a hammer or something similar for his Rolex.

    ‘It was crazy, there were helicopters overhead and dozens of police and ambulances. All this was happening at the end of the school day.

    ‘There were kids around, it’s terrible. A blue tent has since been set up. It doesn’t look good.’

    Police in attendance at a serious incident in Shard End, Birmingham this afternoon. March 15, 2023. See SWNS story SWBNemergency. Multiple emergency service personnel have been in attendance at shops on Heath Way since 3.30pm, it is understood. The area has been cordoned off and a tent has been erected. Police will provide more information when they have a fuller understanding of what has happened.
    Police in attendance at a serious incident in Shard End, Birmingham this afternoon. March 15, 2023. See SWNS story SWBNemergency. Multiple emergency service personnel have been in attendance at shops on Heath Way since 3.30pm, it is understood. The area has been cordoned off and a tent has been erected. Police will provide more information when they have a fuller understanding of what has happened.

    West Midlands Ambulance Service said two ambulances, a paramedic officer, and the Midlands Air Ambulance were sent to the scene.

    A service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 2.55pm to an incident on Heath Way, Shard End, Birmingham.

    ‘Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford attended the scene.

    ‘Upon arrival, we found a man in a critical condition. Ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life support to him.

    ‘Unfortunately, it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased.’

    West Midlands Police only confirmed they were responding to ‘an incident’ and have released no further details since Wednesday evening.

    A police spokesperson said: ‘We currently have officers at shops in Heath Way in Shard End while we respond to an incident.

    ‘There is a cordon in place and we’ll provide more information when we have a fuller understanding of what has happened.’

  • Auditor-General orders Health Ministry to procure ambulances it paid over $600,000 for

    Auditor-General orders Health Ministry to procure ambulances it paid over $600,000 for

    The Ministry of Health is yet to receive a number of Toyota Hiace Deluxe Ambulances which were initially to be delivered on January 15, 2022.

    According to the Auditor-General, the Health Ministry entered a contract signed on 15 December 2021 for the supply of 26 Toyota Hiace Deluxe Ambulances valued at US$4,049,460.12 but made part payment.

    An amount of US$607,419.02 out of the total was paid vide PV No. IPF 22-007 of 2 September 2022,” per the report.

    It has been over a year since the ambulances were to be delivered and over three months after some payment was made.

    Providing reasons for the delay, the Chief Director of the Health Ministry explained that the supplier applied for extension to meet some technical specifications. 

    It was assumed that the supplier could apply for price variation to unduly increase the cost of the contract which could have been avoided if the ambulances had been supplied as scheduled. 

    In view of this, additional specifications have been recommended and the contract has therefore been extended to March 2023. 

    Cognizant of past events, the Auditor-General has instructed the Chief Director to ensure that the ambulances are delivered no further than the extended date of March 2023.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Mahamas comments on ambulances disappointing — Information Minister

    The Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has described comments made by the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, on the distribution of ambulances to constituencies across the country as disappointing and deceptive.

    He said the former President, in an encounter with some financial journalists last Thursday, had suggested that the recent distribution of 307 ambulances was misplaced because there were uncompleted clinics and hospitals across the country that needed to have been completed first.

    Reacting to the comments made by the former President in an encounter with the media last Friday, Mr Nkrumah said although the government was not surprised by the comments, it thought they were disappointing”.

    He said the delivery of emergency healthcare infrastructure in the country was a good initiative that must not be run down for political expediency.

    Opposition u-turn

    Mr Nkrumah explained that although Mr Mahama was running down the distribution of the ambulances, the minority in Parliament and the NDC held series of activities to call for the immediate distribution of the ambulances.

    “They even gave the government a three-day ultimatum to distribute the ambulances prior to its distribution,” he said.

    Giving more instances to support his claim, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said the NDC government under the leadership of the former President procured some ambulances for distribution across the country at a time all hospitals had not been completed, ” so where were they taking the sick people”? he asked.

    He said the public must see the distribution of ambulances as a good intervention for the country and what needed to be discussed was how to pay for them, how to maintain them how to reduce prank calls and make the service delivery effective to save lives across the country.

    He said although the former President was downplaying the need to organise an event for the distribution of the ambulances, there were several evidence and photos of the NDC flag bearer distributing saucepans and inaugurating toilet facilities.

    No alternatives

    On the issue of management of the economy, he said the government was disappointed that the former President was unable to propose any economic management alternative during his two hours encounter with financial journalists although he had criticised efforts by the government to restore the economy to its past glory.

    “He has not been able to explain what he would do differently and he said he was now putting together a working group or committee to look at the issues but that is not the kind of discourse we want now,” he said.

    He said the former President’s criticism of the governments strategy of managing the economy was frivolous as it did not present any alternative solution or strategies.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh