Ojara Martin Mapenduzi, the chairperson of public service commission who also double as area member of parliament for Bardege–Layibi division in Gulu city has directed Gulu city council to repair all the broken ambulances for the city within a period of one month or else they will handle the city authorities to the anti-corruption unit to interrogates them.
MP Ojara says he was saddened and concerned after learning that out of the three ambulances Gulu city has only one ambulance if functional while the two ambulances are lying and parked at Gulu city parking lots.
Ojara added that the two non-function ambulances have only the flat tiers challenges, the damages he says need meager resources to bring idle ambulances on the road to serve the populace.
Honorable Ojara was on Monday speaking from Techo health centre III in Bardege-Layibi division Gulu city while commissioning the brand new type B ambulance given to Bardege-Layib division in Gulu by the Ministry of health under emergency medical service (EMS).
The donated ambulance number registration number UG8086M is being stationed at Techo health centre III and it will be used for emergency health responses, and referral of patients in critical health challenges to the facility they can best handle.
However, Mr. Ahimbisibwe Innocent, the Gulu city clerk says the Gulu city council has started the procurement process to repair their two ambulances which has been down for the past 6 months, and it is estimated that repairing the ambulances will cost the city council approximately 4 million shillings.
He assured that broken ambulances will be on the road within a period of two weeks.
One the other hand he praised the government of Uganda for donating this ambulance to Gulu city saying the city was hardly struggling to manage referral and respond to health emergencies.
Christine Olok, the Gulu city deputy Mayor applauded Ojara Martin Mapenduzi for always pushing for the representing demands of his Constituency and ensuring that they are always the first to benefit in the government initiative.
According to Lakot Grace, the acting in-charge of Layibi Techo, the facility serves a population of 45457 populations and on a monthly basis the facility handles up 1000 people.
He says it will help them refer people in critical conditions such as accident, complicated delivery, severe Malaria pneumonia, Ebola, and corona to the facility where they can be handled.
On the 29 of November 2023 prime minister of Uganda Rt. Honorable Robinah Nabanja flagged a total of 116 type B ambulances under the ministry of health national emergency medical service. The ambulance came along with a fuel card.
However, for Acholi sub region, Bardege-Layibi division in Gulu city, Aswa county in Gulu district, chua east constituency in Kitgum district and Agago county in Agago district were the first to receive their ambulances while other remaining constituency will receive their ambulance in the next fiscal year.
