Ambulances for the sick: Doc

THE Southern Highlands Provincial Health Authority (PHA) has banned ambulances from transporting bodies, its chief executive officer Dr Joseph Birisi says. “Ambulances are for transporting the sick and injured who need medication during emergencies,” he said. “It is not for the dead.” Birisi said this last Friday after commending Imbonggu MP and Inter Government Relations Minister Pila Niningi for presenting three new ambulances to the Imbonggu health services, Kaupena Health Centre and Yariya Sub-health Centre.Birisi said ambulances should not be misused for transporting bodies. “Ambulances are used to transport pregnant mothers, very sick people and referral patients,” he said.Birisi warned drivers and officers in charge of health centres and sub-health centres that if he found an ambulance being misused, “take away the keys and ground the vehicle”.He said Niningi’s contribution would help health staff in Imbonggu to deliver better services to the people.“You have to use ambulances for the right purposes,” Birisi said.“The practise of transporting bodies is becoming a common practise here and I do not want this to continue.“This must stop immediately because it is not right.“If an ambulance is needed to transport a sick person to the hospital, but then it is sent away to Mt Hagen to transport a body, the sick patient face serious health complications.“Then, who is to blame?” Birisi asked.