Ambulances out of action

By LULU MARK
THE St John Ambulance is dedicated to providing emergency response and healthcare to communities despite attacks, Commissioner Matt Cannon says.
It was reported on Monday that over 24 hours of New Year celebrations, there were five occasions where people threw objects or stoned the ambulances at Kaugere, Sabama, Hohola, Burns peak, Biotou (in Central) and Joyce Bay, with the damage estimated to be around K30,000.
Cannon told The National yesterday that the ambulance bus that was stoned last Friday which resulted in a broken window and injured staff, was off road and the repairs would take some time due to unavailability of the replacement glass.
He said the staff received treatment from the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) and was in pain and unable to eat properly.
“We now have to put security grills on a range of our vehicles and that’s a significant cost to St John,” he said.
“There will be protective films added to the windshields of ambulances and support vehicles in the aftermath of these incidents to protect our officers.
“Security grills will be added to rear windows on certain vehicles.
“We are still responding to emergencies in the areas in which the ambulances were attacked.
“We have not and do not want to reduce nor limit services to these areas.
“Our job is to provide trusted and reliable care.
“St John exists to deliver healthcare to all people regardless of race, colour or creed when others cannot or will not.
“We do not discriminate in making available emergency care to those in need.”
Cannon said so long as it was safe for its officers, St John would continue to serve all communities.