The Ministry of Health and Social Services plans to convert 17 vehicles into ambulances and to purchase more vehicles during the current fiscal year.
In a recent interview, MoHSS Executive Director Ben Nangombe told Nampa the 17 vehicles include 11 panel vans and six pick-ups.
“The ministry is conducting a verification and fleet assessment exercise across the country to examine the age and condition of its fleet, among other things in order to inform management decisions during the formulation of the ministry’s future budget,” Nangombe explained.
He said the ministry’s budget for ambulance purchases for the current fiscal year is N.dollars 24 million, adding that the most recent vehicle procurement was for approximately 60 ambulances in 2016.
The COVID-19 pandemic, he noted, had a significant impact on the ministry’s fleet of emergency vehicles in terms of wear and tear, forcing the ministry to find eight cars that were already in operation for conversion into ambulances during the year 2020.
“Roughly 184 ambulances were discovered to be in operating condition, of which three were in good condition,” he said.
The rest were in either moderate, fair or poor condition.
Seven ambulances have been allocated to Windhoek Central Hospital, but only five are operational, while three were assigned to Katutura Intermediate Hospital and are all operational.
Nangombe went on to say that eight ambulances were sent to Rundu Intermediate Hospital, but only four are operational. Seven ambulances were allocated to Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, but only two are operational.
At Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital, three ambulances are allocated, one of which has been written off.
Nangombe also stated that the Gobabis District Hospital has 13 ambulances, but only nine are operational.
There are 18 ambulances assigned to Mariental District Hospital, however only nine are operational and 11 ambulances assigned to Keetmanshoop District Hospital, of which only three are operational.
Sixteen ambulances were assigned to the Katima Mulilo District Hospital but just three are operational.
The ministry is working on a long-term plan to replace these vehicles when the budget allows for it, the ED concluded.
Source: NAMPA
