New ambulances for regions 3 and 4

By Stabroek News On In Guyana News |
Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence (fourth, from right) hands over the keys to the ambulance to Region Four’s RHO Dr Quincy Jones, while Director of Primary Healthcare Services Dr Ertenesia Hamilton (fourth, from left) hands over the keys to the ambulance to Region Three’s RHO Dr Cerdel McWatt. (DPI photo)
Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence (fourth, from right) hands over the keys to the ambulance to Region Four’s RHO Dr Quincy Jones, while Director of Primary Healthcare Services Dr Ertenesia Hamilton (fourth, from left) hands over the keys to the ambulance to Region Three’s RHO Dr Cerdel McWatt. (DPI photo)

Two new ambulances, expected to be put into operation immediately, were officially handed over to the Regional Health Officers (RHOs) of Region Three and Region Four on Wednesday.

The vehicles, valued at $31.5 million, were purchased with funding from a $1.6 billion (US$8 million) Inter-American Development Bank loan, according to a Department of Public Information (DPI) report.

The loan, which was approved in 2016 for a project to address the high rates of maternal and neonatal deaths in the country, covers interventions in regions Three, Four and Nine. The procurement of the ambulances falls under a component of the project to provide better services and strengthen the network for transporting neonates and their mothers.