A tale of two grounded ambulances in Luwero, Uganda

For over two years, two ambulances have now been
grounded at Luwero Health Centre IV, Kasana after failure to maintain and repair them. These ambulances, which lack tyres but otherwise appear good,
 may have a life if some miracle is done and they are repaired. With a bit of prioritisation
and consideration from the district the vehicles could serve their purpose.

The grounding of two ambulances in the district
means there is a gap in the provision of emergency services for people who are
critically ill and need to be transported to the health centres. These people include
women in labour, who could be experiencing potentially fatal obstructed labour.

Uganda’s ministry of health has constantly attributed maternal mortality
to ‘the three Ds’. These Ds relate to three delays, namely delaying to initiate antenatal services or deciding whether to seek care, delaying accessing a health facility, especially
when in labour (normally due to the hardship of long distances and the physical
terrain), and delaying being attended to by health
workers such as doctors and midwives in order to receive quality emergency
obstetric care.

The lack of ambulances in Luwero aggravates the second
delay, since people are scattered and may not be reached quickly during emergency situations.