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Kapchorwa, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The lack of ambulances at Kapchorwa hospital is hindering the referral of patients.
Siraje Masai, the District Health Officer, says that they struggle to ensure timely referral of cases to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. He says that the only ambulance at the hospital is grounded because it developed mechanical problems.
He says that the patients who need referrals include expectant mothers and accident victims. Masai adds that they want the Ministry of Health to make an emergency provision for an ambulance to ease the delivery of health services.
Lucy Chemutai, the Principle Nursing Officer at Kapchorwa hospital, says that the lack of an ambulance and other emergencies is making it difficult for them to save lives.
Chemutai says that referring patients especially mothers in labour is very difficult due to the lack of transport means.
According to Chemutai, some women have lost their lives due to delays to refer them to Mbale or other hospitals. She says that residents are facing a huge challenge to rush their sick relatives to the hospital.
The lack of ambulance services hasn’t gone down well with the residents as they have to hire vehicles to transport their sick relatives to the hospital.
Charles Chesakit, a resident of Tumboboi parish says in March, he lost his child and the mother almost died due to the lack of transport to the main hospital.
Kapchorwa hospital serves the districts of Bulambuli, Kween, Bukwo, and parts of Amudat.
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