Public transport is not a safe or appropriate way to carry patients who need urgent medical attention, according to the National Ambulance Service (NAS) in Keta, Volta region.
The NAS said that using buses, taxis, or motorcycles to transport sick people could expose them to the risk of infecting others or aggravating their own health problems.
Mr. Emmanuel Korbla Tordzro, the Senior Emergency Medical Technician at the Keta Municipal Ambulance Service, told the Ghana News Agency that the public should always rely on the NAS for emergency cases.
He said the NAS had the necessary equipment and personnel to provide pre-hospital care and ensure safe and timely delivery of patients to health facilities. He urged the public to call the toll-free number 193 or 112 to request an ambulance service whenever they needed one.
Mr. Emmanuel also advised the public to cooperate with the NAS staff and provide accurate information about the location and condition of the patients.
The benefits of using the NAS
Mr. Tordzro said that using the NAS had many advantages over public transport. He said the NAS could handle all kinds of emergencies, such as injuries, pregnancies, burns, accidents, and chronic diseases. He said the NAS staff were trained and certified to perform basic and advanced life support, such as CPR, oxygen therapy, wound dressing, and IV fluids.
Alsp, he stated that the NAS vehicles were equipped with medical devices, such as defibrillators, ventilators, stretchers, and monitors, to stabilize and monitor the patients during the journey.
He said the NAS had a network of communication and coordination with other health agencies, such as the police, fire service, and hospitals, to ensure smooth and efficient operations. He said the NAS also had a system of quality assurance and feedback to improve its services and address any complaints or suggestions from the public.
The challenges facing the NAS
Despite the benefits of using the NAS, Mr. Tordzro said the service faced some challenges that hindered its performance. He said the NAS lacked adequate resources, such as vehicles, fuel, drugs, and staff, to meet the increasing demand for its services.
Mr. Tordzro said the NAS also encountered some difficulties with accessing some areas, especially in rural and remote locations, due to poor road conditions and lack of signage.
He stated that the NAS also suffered from prank calls and false alarms, which wasted its time and resources and prevented it from attending to genuine cases.
He appealed to the government and other stakeholders to support the NAS with more funding, equipment, and personnel to enhance its capacity and efficiency.
Mr. Tordzro also appealed to the public to respect and cooperate with the NAS and to refrain from making prank calls or false alarms. He said the NAS was committed to serving the public with professionalism, compassion, and excellence.
Source: Modern Ghana
