Reg 2 gets off-road ambulance to boost healthcare services in hinterland communities

In a significant stride towards improving healthcare accessibility in remote areas, an off-road ambulance has recently been presented to Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) with intention to revolutionise medical emergency response.
The off-road ambulance will be serving several villages, including Mainstay, Lima Sands, Capoey, St. Deny’s, and Mashabo, which had previously been faced with challenges in getting patients to the mainstream hospitals.
Regional Health Officer (RHO) Dr. Ranjeev Singh has said the ambulance would serve as a relief to persons living in hinterland communities. Patients, he added, can faster be transported to the various facilities to be treated. The ambulance is equipped with ECG machines and defibrillators.
The RHO has, however, revealed that Community Health Workers and midwives are available, and they are trained to ensure patients receive a certain amount of health care until they arrive at the Public Hospital at Suddie.
“The Maternal and Child Health Department, which is responsible for the health centres and health posts throughout the region, has created a network whereby, if they have emergency patients who need the ambulance, after making contact, they can be transferred to the hospital at a fast, reliable, and safe manner,” he explained.

He added that drivers are on a 24-hour standby, but noted that there presently is a shortage of drivers in the health sector.
“We need more drivers, but I’m sure I’m going to talk to the Public Service that there is a required gap, and I’m certain we can have more drivers employed and trained to be responsible and prompt when called upon,” he has said.
When asked about the impact of the off-road ambulance in servicing the hinterland communities, Dr Singh stated, “I think (that) with the off-road ambulance and our high-risk (pregnancy) mothers, we are not only saving the life of the mother, but also the baby. I think it will provide a boost to our healthcare service in our region and the hinterland communities at large. (There will be) less complicated situations, and at some point of time, save someone.”
Introduction of the off-road ambulance marks a pivotal moment in enhancing healthcare services for hinterland communities, ensuring that every resident receives timely and effective medical care, regardless of their location.