BARCLAYVILLE, Oct 22 (LINA) – The World Bank Group has donated an ambulance to the Grand Kru County Heath Team (CHT) to help the Government strengthen its health delivery services amidst the ongoing global fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The latest donation brings to two the number of ambulances in the county, including the one previously donated by GIZ, a German government agency working in Liberia.
Yeabi Clark, County Health Services Administrator, who served as proxy for the County Health Officer, Dr. Sienna Jackson Decontee Mentoe, on Wednesday, October 21, officially turned over the World Bank-donated ambulance keys to the County Superintendent, Doris Ylatun.
The new ambulance is intended to transport patients from one point to another during health emergencies.
The County Health Services Administrator said the World Bank’s gesture is also intended to buttress government’s effort in providing quality health delivery to citizens of Grand Kru County.
Mr. Clarke also noted that the ambulance will enhance the speedy movement of patients during referral situations and to positively respond to health emergencies in the county.
The Grand Kru County Health Services Administrator commended health workers, saying they were up to the task prior to the donation of the additional ambulance by the World Bank.
Making the presentation, the County Health authorities disclosed that the World Bank ambulance will be assigned to the Barclayville Health District, while the GIZ-donated ambulance will go to the Buah Health District to ease the work load on drivers.
Clark disclosed that three persons and six nurses have been trained in ambulance management, care and usage; and are therefore knowledgeable in ambulance services.
He assured that the donation will be used for the intended purpose in the county.
In remarks, the acting County Health Officer and Community Health Department Director disclosed that plans are underway to use the ambulance across the five health districts of Grand Kru County.
Malcolm Smith assured the citizens of the county that the county health team will use the ambulance to respond to health emergencies, but called on other officials to help the system in monitoring the two ambulances.
He on behalf of the County Health Team lauded the World Bank and GIZ for their continued support to the Liberian Government through the Health Ministry to improve health services in the country, and called on them to continue their support to enhance the country’s healthcare delivery system.
At the same time, Mr. Smith has boasted of the improvement made in the county’s health sector, especially in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic in Grand Kru County.
Also speaking, the County Health Board Chairperson and Superintendent of Grand Kru County, Doris Ylatun, expressed thanks and appreciation to the World Bank Group for its continued support to the Government and people of Liberia, especially Grand Kru, a county which she said was “forgotten in the past,” but that since the coming to power of the CDC-led government she can boastfully say that the county is on the path of tangible development.
She urged the trainees, especially ambulance drivers, to set a different standard in terms of patient management and care.
« The ambulances donated by government’s development partners have brought relief to the Grand Kru County Health System,” Madam Ylatun pointed out.
The Grand County Superintendent said the ambulances will also help address some of the major challenges confronting the county’s health sector.
Madam Ylatun appealed to health authorities and others to properly maintain the two ambulances, recounting the misuse of vehicles on some occasions by ambulance drivers.
“Riding at excessive speed just because one is driving an ambulance may often be detrimental to the lives of health workers and patients whose lives the vehicles are intend to save, especially in the case of pregnant women,” Superintendent Ylatun cautioned the drivers.
She also admonished the three trained ambulance operators to drive with care and not above the speed limit.
