The Southampton Hospital Trust based in the United Kingdom, has donated two Ambulances to the Upper-East Regional Health Directorate.

Acknowledging the donation of the vehicles, the Upper-East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams, said there were difficulties in emergency management in the Region, and the donation would help address some of the challenges.

The Regional Director said most of the health facilities in the region, particularly at the district level, had challenges with ambulance services, and relied mainly on the general ambulance service which was limited.

He stated that one of the major factors that accounted for high maternal deaths in the region was the lack of means of transport to convey women in labour and other emergency cases, to the higher facilities for care and attention.

Dr Awoonor-Williams who gave one of the Ambulances to the Afrikids Ghana Medical Centre, lauded the efforts of the Centre for facilitating the donation process. The other vehicle went to the Zebilla Hospital.

He cautioned the facilities to use the vehicles for the intended purpose, but not to use them to carry corpses, and to also refrain from asking patients to pay per diem to drivers and nurses when referring patients in emergency situations.

The Country Director of Afrikids Ghana, Mr Nicholas Kumah, said his outfit would continue to facilitate the collaboration with the Directorate, since there were enormous benefits that could accrue from the partnership.

He advised the ambulance drivers to drive with care

GNA