Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 14, 2014 (SKNIS): Minister of Health Honourable Marcella Liburd revealed that the newly donated tri-ambulettes will be reserved for the smaller often events-based precautionary roles thus enabling the traditional ambulances to be on call for unforeseen emergencies.
The Minister noted this last week, at the handing over of the tri-ambulettes and emergency bags which were donated by Women’s Health Alliance (WAHA) International of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“Sometimes, especially when we have these sporting events, like cricket and so on, the ambulances are based at the sporting arena at the venue and sometimes we have external calls for them, while they are stationed there – hours or sometimes days on end,” Minister Liburd emphasized. “These mini-ambulances will really free up our ambulances. So that we can station them there at sporting events because they are fully equip and will be able to handle any emergencies that arise in an efficient manner.”
Minister Liburd further informed that 13 mini-ambulances had been donated. Ten would remain in St. Kitts while three would go to Nevis. She said that they would certainly have another specific role to play.
“Also these tri-ambulettes give us a chance to give greater outreach in our communities,” Minister Liburd stressed noting the emergency vehicle’s importance. “We need them so we can take the health services, more efficiently into our communities, to be able to better assist more persons with their health issues. I think that these tri-ambulettes will go a very long way in doing that and satisfying the needs and concerns of persons in St. Kitts and Nevis.”
The emergency vehicles had been presented to Honourable Patrice Nisbett as the Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs and he in turn had passed them on to the Ministry of Health. Minister Nisbett noted that St. Kitts and Nevis established diplomatic relations with Dubai on June 16, 2010, while two years ago a consulate was established in the UAE country. He took the opportunity to thank the Government and people of Dubai as well as WAHA and the foundation that designed the vehicles. He emphasized the efficiency of the emergency vehicles which are being used in Sub-Sahara Africa and the Caribbean.
“These tri-ambulettes are a substantial improvement over other market models, in that they are low maintenance, high efficiency and provide maximum patient privacy,” Minister Nisbett explained. “With a 250 cubic centimeter engine, a 10 litre reservoir, and a two-way radio for communication with the driver – these tri-ambulettes have proven to be highly durable.
Other outlined uses for the tri-ambulettes included being used at blood drives, community fairs, school and National Carnival events, particularly on crowded occasions such as Carnival’s J’Ouvert