Pretoria - Seventy three ambulances, bought by the North West Department of Health and Social Development for use during the FIFA World Cup, will now be made available to clinics and hospitals in the province.
The Bojanala Platinum District received 28 ambulances, the Ngaka Modiri Molema District got 17 and the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district received 16. Ten ambulances will render services in the Dr Ruth Segomotse Mompati District and the two remaining ambulances will provide service at the North-West Emergency Medical Rescue Service College in Orkney.
Health and Social Development MEC Rebecca Kasienyane said the ambulances would help address the challenge of a shortage of ambulances. It will not completely eradicate shortage but it will substantially improve the situation, she said.
"We will continue to look for additional funding so that we may be able to procure more because we all know that shortage of ambulances hinders transportation of patients such as pregnant women to hospitals and clinics, the seriously sick and those who sustained injuries in road accidents," Kasienyane said.
Kasienyane also sent out a stern warning against negligent driving noting that the department will not hesitate to deal with those who are irresponsible.
"The department has previously dealt with cases of negligent driving on the part of our drivers and the end results of this behavior has been that some of our ambulances spent more time in garages being serviced when they are supposed to be attending to emergencies on the road, and this has led to substantial shortfall," she said .
