The addition of 15 new ambulances to the health sector has taken T&T emergency medical service to First World status, says Health Minister Jerry Narace. Narace was delivering the feature address during the handing-over ceremony of the new fleet of ambulances yesterday at the Vehicle Management Company of T&T, Beetham Highway. “With this new addition of 15 ambulances, we are now on par with the developed countries. We have reached First World status,” Narace said. “The optimal ambulance to population ratio for a country like ours is one ambulance to 25,000 persons. Today, with the addition of these new ambulances to the fleet, we are on par,” he added.He said that would increase the number of serviceable ambulances from 37 to 52 which would be operating from 13 bases. The new ambulances, handed over to Global Medical Response of T&T (GMRTT), were state-of-the art Vauxhall Movano vehicles from the UK, equipped with the necessary diagnostic and stabilisation equipment for mobile pre-hospital emergency patient care and transfer, he added. He said eight more ambulances were expected to be retired over the course of this year and more ambulances were being procured to replace them.But, Narace admitted other areas in the health sector needed improvement. “Even though we are not where we want to be, we are moving in that direction,” he said. Meanwhile, president of the Public Service Association (PSA), Watson Duke, said, “Nobody is taking note of Tobago.” In a telephone interview yesterday, he said, “There is only one ambulance servicing Tobago and people are dying every day as a result of that. This is a crisis. “There are 12 derelict ambulances just parked up.When citizens call for the emergency services, the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) staff have no vehicles to drive.” Duke added that everyone, including doctors and staff, were being blamed except those who were responsible. He added, “This was the reason the PSA is calling for the resignation of the chairman and chief executive officer of Tobago Regional Health Authority. “Health was a priority and we have approached Narace to assist in improving the health sector.” However, Narace told reporters at the ceremony he was discussing the issue with the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). In a telephone interview, Secretary of the Health and Social Services, THA, Albert Pilgrim, said they were in the process of acquiring new ambulances but could not state at what stage the process had reached. Pilgrim said he would be able to divulge more information after he met with the Board which would have happened yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, president of the Public Service Association (PSA), Watson Duke, said, “Nobody is taking note of Tobago.” In a telephone interview yesterday, he said, “There is only one ambulance servicing Tobago and people are dying every day as a result of that. This is a crisis. “There are 12 derelict ambulances just parked up.
“With this new addition of 15 ambulances, we are now on par with the developed countries. We have reached First World status,” Narace said. “The optimal ambulance to population ratio for a country like ours is one ambulance to 25,000 persons. Today, with the addition of these new ambulances to the fleet, we are on par,” I think this means that the ambulance service is on par with First World countries, his statement is being used entirely out of context, article is misleading.
you guys know his First World comments are geared specifically toward the ambulances right? At no point does he ever reference anything else about infrastructure or cost of living etc.
