Two fully-equipped ambulances were handed over to the Berbice Regional Health Services (BRHS) by the Ministry of Public Health for use by the New Amsterdam and Skeldon hospitals.
According to a Govern-ment Information Agency (GINA) news release, the two facilities were selected due to their functions as “receiving hospitals,” serving outlying communities as far as Orealla and Siparuta.
Both of the ambulances, which were gifted to Guyana from the Government of Turkey, were furnished with modern equipment, inclusive of monitors, stretchers, beds, and oxygen lines.
During the handing-over ceremony, Public Health Minister Dr George Norton said the government has also commenced training of the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), who are equally vital to the administering of emergency health care.
Norton said so far 52 EMTs have been trained, of which 36 are in the employ of the Guyana Defence Force and the remaining 16 in the employ of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corpora-tion.
Those 16 EMTs were responsible for responding to 33,500 calls and conducted three en route deliveries.
The minister also expressed his gratitude to the Turkish government for the donations.