By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu
Mbarara
Twaweza, a non-profit organization that seeks to amplify people’s voices, partnered with the Ministry of Health in Uganda to strengthen emergency medical services in the Ankole region.
Maria Nkalubo who represented the commissioner of EMS ministry of health revealed that the government of Uganda recognizes the role of EMS and the part it plays in improving universal health care.
“We want to increase the availability of quality EMS Care by 50% in 2025.” Added Nkalubo.
The two entities organized an emergency response workshop on October 5th at Hotel Triangle in Mbarara City, which was aimed at creating awareness on emergency response in the region.
At the workshop, Marie Nanyanzi, a representative from Twaweza, noted that a study they conducted in 2021 revealed that many Ugandans complain of poor emergency services. Nanyanzi said that most citizens are aware of the ambulances donated by members of parliament, which are often substandard.
As a result, Twaweza recommends that the government strengthens emergency response services at the household and community levels and develops legislation for Good Samaritans who fear police interrogations.
They also call on the government to establish and equip regional call and dispatch centers, operationalize and popularize the EMS short code 912, and build the capacity of health workers in emergency and critical care.
Dr. Celestine Barigye, the Mbarara referral hospital director, hailed the Ministry of Health and Twaweza for their research and acknowledged that most developed countries have effective emergency response systems.
He urged stakeholders to adopt similar measures in Uganda and suggested that mobile X-ray machines would be necessary since most emergency victims cannot move. Barigye thanked the media for amplifying the messages and encouraged them to do more to achieve the desired results.
Robert Kanusu, the Mbarara City North RCC, thanked Twaweza for organizing the workshop and urged all participants to become good EMS ambassadors. The Ankole sub-region, which comprises of twelve districts, has nearly 30 ambulances, but few are functional. The active ambulances are those operated by the Ministry of Health, the Red Cross Society, and the Humanitarian Help for Uganda at all catholic health facilities in the archdiocese of Mbarara.
Emergency responders provided their toll-free numbers to the public, including HHFU (0800321321) with their base in Nyamitanga at Holy Innocents children’s hospital, Red Cross (0800211088), Mbarara referral hospital hotline (0800100066), and police lines (999 and 112).
Given the urgent need to improve emergency response services in Uganda, Twaweza and the Ministry of Health’s partnership has the potential to transform emergency medical services in the Ankole region and beyond.
