Ambulance
During our visits to Tunguli, we always spend time with Tito the ambulance driver to check that it continues to serve the community well. With the ambulance now several years old, we arranged for it to refurbished earlier in 2024 and is now fit hopefully for the next several years. It is providing an invaluable, indeed life saving, service. We wanted you to hear the reality of how it is used and the following are two real life stories which show the importance of the work it is doing.
“My name is Sala Zefania. I do remember that date. In fact I cant forget that day because when I was referred from Tunguli HC after some complication of my pregnance my relatives ran away and left me alone saying that I was bewitched that is why I could not have a normal delivery! Am happy the center provided me the ambulance for free with a nurse to escort me. Fortunately on the way I got a normal delivery! Am so happy and proud of the ambulance.”
”My name is Veronica Chabaja. I got complications during my pregnance, hence I had to be referred to Berega hospital.I was fearing about my life but the doctor encouraged me that the ambulance will take me to the hospital soon and I will be safe.Am so happy I was brought there safely and I got a baby boy.May bless those who had the idea of having an ambulance for us in Tunguli.”
Saving lives and easing suffering
Since September 2016 the ambulance has been in action. The driver has been trained, pic of Tito on the ambulance the ambulance commissioned and patients are benefitting. Our driver, Tito, reports that the e-Ranger is very manoeuvrable and over rough roads can travel more quickly than a large 4x4. During its first month of operation the ambulance transported around 30 patients to and from the HC and also to Berega Hospital for more specialist treatment. Many of these trips involved emergencies such as caesareans and serious illnesses such as fractures, malaria and pneumonia. As the short rains approach (December) the roads will become more difficult and incidences of malaria will increase so the ambulance will be working flat out.