MARINE BASE, ENTEBBE: The Parliamentary Health Committee has enjoyed a boat ride while conducting a fact-finding mission to ascertain the status of the boat ambulances which the Ministry of Health procured as part the Emergency Medical Services.
The boat ambulances are currently kept at the UPDF Marine base in Entebbe awaiting dispatching to various districts.
Dr. Charles Ayume, the Chairperson of the Health Committee on Monday led a delegation of 20 members of Parliament to confirm the availability of the boats following reports raised on the floor of parliament a few months ago on the whereabouts of the boats.
The boats were procured with funding from Government under the supplementary Covid-19 fund, as well as funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) and UNICEF.
During the fact finding visit, the committee found that a total of 7 boats have already arrived into the country and are currently docked at the UPDF Marine base and in good shape.
As part of the visit, the MPs were chauffeured for a distance of 20kms in which they inspected, tested and found the boats worth to be used for medical emergency services.
Dr Ayume in his opening remarks during interface with the team from Ministry of Health led by the Commissioner Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Dr. John Baptist Waniaye said the committee on health was acting within its constitutional mandate to provide an oversight role on the strides so far made in water, land and air health services.
“The issue of the boat ambulances had been a sticky one for quite sometime and I found it right to invite colleague Members of Parliament from Kalangala, Buvuma and Nakasongola who are direct end users to come and add their voice to the subject matter,” he said.
He applauded government for doing well as far as Primary Health Care (PHC) is concerned.
The Commander of UPDF Marine Brigade, Brig Gen Michael Nyarwa thanked the Parliamentarians for visiting the marine base where the boats are temporarily docked.
He informed the members that in performing government duties there’s no single government Ministry, department or agency that can address challenges alone but rather through Inter Agency cooperation.
How it started
While presenting a paper to the health committee on the need for emergency Medical services, the Commissioner Emergency Medical Services(EMS) MOH, Dr John Baptish Waniaye said Ministry of Health developed a strategic plan to procure 15 boat ambulances to cover large water bodies to get emergency services in the areas of maternal health conditions, paediatrics, trauma etc.
“The plan is to cover people in the highland district of Lake Victoia, Kyoga, River Nile, Albert, Lake Bunyonyi and Bisinia. The government of Uganda appropriated funds under the Covid-19 supplementary to provide 3 specialised ambulance services class C boat ambulances,” Dr. Waniaye explained.
He added that 7 boat ambulances have already been procured out of the target of 15, saying more will be delivered in September and October this year.
He said for proper management of these boats, a joint ambulance management system has been formed to include Ministry of Works and Transport, Ministry of Defence and veteran Affairs, Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of Health to deliver the function of emergency response in the waters.
He called for a framework for repairs by the UPDF and the UPF marines department guided by the the Minister of Health and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, adding that the roles of all partners are well spelt out as has been approved by the Solicitor General.
The Commissioner, however, pointed out some challenges including the high cost of running the boats in terms of fuel where the longest journey takes up to 500 litres of diesel, maintenance and warming.
He acknowledged that boats which were previously procured under the GAVI funds were mismanaged and it’s the reason they want to take advantage of the existing services in a joint framework.
He enumerated four core functionalities of the emergency medical services to have to effectively facilitate the performance of the ambulances; paramedics, navigators, mechanics and security coverage for its safety.
The Principle Operations Officer Emergency medical service, Ministry of Health, Ms Maria Nkalubo said Regional Emergency services is being set up in most areas of Uganda to operationalise this plan through entrenched Regional systems by zoning them.
She acknowledged the huge need for theses services but as a ministry, they’ll go ahead to prioritise. She said they have identified these water bodies in the districts as Kalangala, Buvuma, Amolatar, Jinja, Mayuge, Mukono, Namayingo, serre, Kipumi, Buliisa, Kikube, Kabale and Nakasongola.
She further said that 1 boat will be assigned to the National Medical Stores for emergency transport services, inspection and deliveries.
Ms Nakalubo called upon the public to take advantage of these boat services and asked the population to be vigilant and report abuse. She said the boats are fully equipped with high level equipment. She added that the service is offered free of charge.
The boat is equipped with spine boards, an isolator, oxygen saturation equipment, blood glucose monitoring equip, rescusciator kits, suction machines, 2 oxygen cylinders of 10 litres each. Each boat ambulance costs US181,000.
Reacting to the presentation by the Commissioner, Hon Nsibambi said he was happy government took the initiative to acquire the boats with modern equipment.
Hon Ayebale of Mbarara noted the need for capacity building and expertise by the staff of Ministry of Health in terms of training Engineers and other workers.
Hon Moses Kabusu of Kalangala asked the committee to visit the end users to ascertain docking points in critical highland areas.
Hon Dr. Herbert Batuwa of Jinja emphasised the importance of Emergency medical services by making it operational.
He however requested that this sector be allowed to operate separately. Hon Irene Muloni implored the members to push for the establishment of a marine college to help train marine personnel.
In his closing remarks, Dr Ayume said the committee had been able to inspect the boat ambulances and was satisfied about their worthiness
