By Tolit Ivan
In a bid to improve on emergency health responses in Acholi sub region, the region requires more 22 ambulances to serve the growing population.
Currently, the Acholi Sub-region has only 15 emergency ambulances.
Four are attached to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, while the remaining 11 are shared among the region’s 10 local administrative units.
Speaking during the regional health assembly at Bomah Hotel on Wednesday, Hillary Onek, the Minister for General Duties, said each district needs at least three emergency ambulances to ensure timely response to health emergencies, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
Onek said the districts in Acholi are geographically vast, making it difficult to effectively respond to emergencies when communities have to rely on a single ambulance.
He said his office will engage the Ministry of Health and as well present the matter before Cabinet in an effort to address the ambulance shortage in the region.
Dr Peter Mukobi, the Director of Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, said ambulance services remain a critical area that requires deliberate government investment, particularly in the Acholi Sub-region, where districts cover large geographical areas.
The call for more ambulances comes at a time when most districts in the Acholi Sub region are struggling with shortages of ambulances, a situation that has affected the delivery of emergency medical services.
