Patients numbering up to five had passed on in separate travels while in an Ambulance with registration number GV 821-19 to Koforidua Central or St. Joseph Hospital from various health facilities within the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal for emergency health care.
Three hospitals namely, Atua and Akuse Government Hospitals and St. Martins De Pores Hospital provide medical health care for the people in Lower Manya Krobo and its neighboring communities.
Data available to Rite 90.1FM indicated that the National Ambulance Service in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal has transported 393 patients on emergency care to various destinations in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions since January, 2021.
Forming a greater majority to have benefited, patients aged 15 to 44 years topped the report with 198. Meanwhile, age categories less than one year and 60 years or older followed with 59 and 57 patients respectively.
The least beneficiary age class constitutes patients between 1 and 14 years and 45 and 59 years, making 42 each. In all, however, 47 more females accessed the ambulance than males with a tally of 221 and 172 respectively.
These data were revealed in a report filed by the National Ambulance Service (NAS) Directorate in Lower Manya Krobo for the period January 31, 2020, to August 27, 2021.
While pregnancy complications recorded the highest emergency incidence with 151 patients, heart and respiratory-related issues followed with 97. Meanwhile, road traffic accident cases came third with 76.
The rest of the following health cases combined resulted in 69 patients for the same period: abdominal pains, vomiting and diarrhea, convulsion and seizure, general body pains, general infections including HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis, abnormal behavior and burns.
Interestingly, 384 out of the total emergency services rendered came through the NAS regional control room by calling 112, while 8 were walk-in by the public.
The Kpong station of the National Ambulance Service in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal bemoaned the inadequate office space as 11members staff share single room office, and inadequate working logistics challenging its outfit.
The directorate is therefore calling on the government to extend the coverage of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to the expenses of the Ambulance Services.
Source: Omanba Kodwo Boafo
