The Regional Manager of the National Ambulance Service in Greater Accra, Principal Advanced Emergency Medical Technologist (PAEMT) Daniel Asare, has bemoaned the shortage of ambulances, which he says threatens the delivery of timely medical care during emergencies.
Speaking on 3FM Sunrise with Johnnie Hughes on June 4, Daniel Asare emphasized that they have for far too long had challenges in their quest to provide emergency response services.
“In line with WHO standards, one ambulance is recommended for every 50,000 people,”. “But in Greater Accra, we are operating with just 40 ambulances for a population of over 5.2 million.” He stated.
Mr Asare again highlighted the strain on paramedics and the ripple effects on patient outcomes.
“Our teams are doing their best even under difficult circumstances, but the system is under-resourced. Sometimes, we get simultaneous emergency calls in different parts of the city, and we simply do not have enough ambulances to respond to all of them in real time.” He bemoaned.
Mr Asare, however, called for urgent government intervention and investment in emergency health infrastructure.
“We must resource the frontline adequately. Lives are being lost because we can’t reach patients quickly enough. We need additional ambulances like rapid response vehicles, air ambulances, and retooling of our spoilt ambulances.” Daniel Asare emphasized.
In January 2020, the NPP government commissioned and distributed 307 new ambulances, seeking to provide each of Ghana’s 275 constituencies with at least one ambulance.
This initiative was part of the NPP’s 2016 campaign promise to strengthen the National Ambulance Service. The ambulances were equipped with advanced life support systems and tracking devices to enhance emergency response capabilities.
Despite these initiatives among others, citizens still battle to access and afford an ambulance during critical needs.
