The Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Hon. Isaac Adongo, has donated a fully equipped ambulance to the Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate in a major move aimed at strengthening emergency healthcare delivery and improving referral services across the municipality.
The donation, which has been widely welcomed by health officials and residents, is expected to ease transportation challenges within the health sector, particularly in emergency situations involving pregnant women, accident victims, critically ill patients, and other urgent medical cases.
Presenting the ambulance to the Municipal Health Directorate, Hon. Isaac Adongo explained that the intervention was inspired by the growing healthcare needs of the people and the persistent difficulties associated with emergency transportation in the municipality.
According to the MP, the ambulance was purchased with his personal resources as a token of appreciation to the people of Bolgatanga Central for their continued trust and support over the years.
“This is not public funds. This is Isaac Adongo thanking his constituents. I bought this ambulance on my own to give to the Municipal Health Directorate,” he stated.
Hon. Adongo stressed that the ambulance was specifically procured to serve the people of the Bolgatanga Municipality and should therefore remain permanently within the municipality for the benefit of residents.
He explained that the vehicle was intentionally handed over to the Municipal Health Directorate rather than the National Ambulance Service to prevent it from being absorbed into the national pool of ambulances and deployed outside the municipality.
“The reason I am not giving it to the National Ambulance Service is that I don’t want it swallowed into the pool of ambulances. Once it is here and controlled by you, it should be dedicated to only the people of the Bolgatanga Municipality,” he explained.
The lawmaker further cautioned against the misuse of the ambulance, emphasizing that the vehicle is strictly meant for transporting sick persons and handling medical emergencies.
“This ambulance is for the sick, not for the dead,” he stressed, while calling on residents and health professionals to ensure that the ambulance is used for its intended purpose.
Hon. Adongo also appealed to the public to observe proper healthcare referral procedures when seeking ambulance services, noting that emergency transportation should be guided by recommendations from qualified health personnel.
He expressed optimism that the donation would contribute significantly toward reducing delays in emergency response and improving healthcare delivery within the municipality.
Receiving the ambulance on behalf of the Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate, the Acting Municipal Director of Health Services, Mr. Simon Effah Adjei, described the gesture as timely, thoughtful, and highly beneficial to the municipality’s healthcare system.
According to Mr. Adjei, healthcare facilities within the municipality often encounter difficulties when National Ambulance Service vehicles are unavailable due to assignments in other locations, resulting in delays in patient referrals and emergency response operations.
“This ambulance has come timely, as it will help to improve referrals. There are instances where the National Ambulance may be on another mission and may not be available. This one will come to support,” he said.
Mr. Adjei noted that one of the critical healthcare challenges confronting the region is maternal mortality, with transportation delays identified as a major contributing factor.
He indicated that the availability of the ambulance would greatly enhance the municipality’s referral system and improve access to timely healthcare interventions, especially for pregnant women and critically ill patients.
“One of the challenges we face as a region has to do with maternal deaths, and one of the causes is the delay in transportation. We believe this ambulance will help improve referrals and reduce maternal and child mortality,” he stated.
The Acting Municipal Director further explained that beyond maternal healthcare, the ambulance would also improve the municipality’s ability to respond rapidly to road traffic accidents, disease outbreaks, and other public health emergencies.
Mr. Adjei took the opportunity to commend Hon. Isaac Adongo for his continued commitment to the development of healthcare infrastructure and services within the municipality.
He disclosed that the MP has over the years supported several health facilities through infrastructure improvements and other interventions aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery for residents.
On behalf of the Municipal Health Directorate, health workers, and residents of the municipality, Mr. Adjei assured the MP that the ambulance would be properly maintained and effectively utilized to save lives and improve healthcare services across Bolgatanga Municipality.
The donation has since been hailed by many residents as a significant intervention that will strengthen healthcare accessibility and improve emergency medical response within the municipality.
Source: BlueWaves Radio 93.7 FM | Maurice Duncan | Bolgatanga
