This archive report was first published on 19 July 2019.
On July 19, 2019, Nakuru County Government unveiled 10 new ambulances to boost health services delivery in the region. The ambulances were acquired at a cost of Sh100 million.
According to Public Health Chief Officer Samuel King'ori, five of the ambulances are equipped with advanced equipment, while the others are for basic life support. The advanced ambulances are designed to provide hospital-to-hospital referrals, while the basic life support ambulances will transport patients from localities to the nearest hospitals.
King'ori noted that the advanced ambulances are equipped with oxygen, portable suction units, spinal boards, monitors, map reading lights, and first aid kits, making them ideal for doctor appointments and providing extra support to patients in critical condition.
"Advanced ambulances shall provide hospital to hospital referrals and are like an ICU that offer services to patients in critical state," King'ori said.
The basic life support ambulances, on the other hand, will provide transport to patients who require medical care. "Patients who require medical transportation and close medical monitoring shall use basic life support ambulances," King'ori said.
The ambulances will be operated by paramedics trained on patient care, with at least 30 paramedics employed to offer the services. Drivers operating the ambulances will also offer health services to patients in critical condition.
"Each ambulance shall be operated by at least six trained paramedics," King'ori said.
The modern ambulances are installed with car trackers and communication systems that will be monitored from a central dispatch centre located at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital.
Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui noted that the ambulances will help save lives of victims of crashes and emergencies in different parts of the county and along the busy Eldoret-Nakuru highway.
