New ambulance to boost Laikipia’s emergency healthcare

Medics demonstrating how patients will be cared for in the new advanced life support ambulance

.Laikipia residents have been reprieved after the county government procured an advanced life support ambulance that will boost emergency care in the county.

The ambulance that will be stationed at the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral hospital, is equipped to ensure patients arrive to the referral hospital safely.

It has a monitor to keep track of a patient’s vital signs, a ventilator in case the patient requires intubation and oxygen support.

The ambulance has also been equipped with a defibrillator to resuscitate patients if their hearts stop before they arrive at the hospital.

While launching the ambulance, Governor Joshua Irungu said health is a priority for his administration and that over half of the county budget is channeled towards the sector.

“We have continuously made major investments in the health sector and today, we are happy to launch this ambulance that will be a mobile ICU and which is well equipped to save lives,” he said.

He said it’s not enough to ensure there are well supported health facilities when patients can lose their lives on the way.

The ambulance, he noted, is a major milestone for the county and will serve residents of the neighbouring counties such as Isiolo, Nyeri and Meru.

Laikipia governor Joshua Irungu flagging off the new advanced life support ambulance at Nanyuki teaching and referral hospital

Health executive Albert Taiti said a health facility is judged by its ability to offer emergency care to patients.

“This ambulance will go a long way in improving emergency services at the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital,” he said.

He said the influx of patients from neighbouring counties have heavily impacted health services in the region despite the administration efforts to boost services.

“But we understand that patients don’t have boundaries though it has caused a few gaps here and there,” he said.

He said the county will also dispatch a well-equipped ambulance to serve the Laikipia North region that has been without one for some time.

This followed the withdrawal of an ambulance that was serving the area that was then taken to the county referral hospital.

“Residents of areas such as Doldol have been complaining for some time. We had to withdraw the ambulance then but will be dispatching a well-equipped one to the area soon,” he said.