Khartoum: The Federal Minister of Health, Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, stressed the importance of supporting the National Emergency Care and Ambulance Project to build a strong health system, noting that the ambulance is not merely a vehicle, but a package of services led by specialized medical staff responsible for transferring patients to appropriate hospitals and saving lives.
According to Sudan News Agency, this statement was made during his address at the workshop on ‘Case Management within the Referral and Ambulance System,’ organized by the National Emergency Care and Ambulance Agency in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Fund, with the participation of directors of curative medicine and hospitals from 11 states, held at Marina Hotel.
Dr. Haitham explained that the establishment of the National Emergency Care and Ambulance Agency came under difficult circumstances with the aim of restoring ambulance services in the states. He emphasized the need to develop a law, regulations, and an independent budget for the agency, in addition to providing a special supply package for the project. He added: ‘We aspire to benefit from the staff working in ambulance services in the states, especially directors of curative medicine, and support them in implementing the project, while enhancing joint commitment between state walis (governors), directors of curative medicine, and health insurance to ensure continuity of ambulance services.’ He further stated: ‘We aim to restore citizens’ trust in ambulance and emergency services, and we have gradually started regaining acceptance of the agency’s work, with significant appreciation from the state walis for ambulance efforts.’
For his part, the Director of the National Emergency Care and Ambulance Agency, Dr. Mohy-eddin Hassan, said that the national ambulance project contributes to the fair distribution of medical services by deploying ambulances in various regions. He noted that more than 146 ambulances have been distributed following the last allocation in 2016, which covered 400 well-equipped vehicles. He also pointed out that the agency is working to digitize the tracking system of operating ambulances, stressing that the project requires sustainable financing to cover all areas and reduce the mortality rate to less than 50% nationwide.
He underlined that the project is both long-standing and strategic, with multiple steps taken to develop the referral system and operate the vehicles, resulting in a qualitative shift in ambulance services in the states through comprehensive coverage of referrals and reporting.
Meanwhile, the Director of the National Ambulance, Dr. Tasneem Al-Fadil, said the workshop aimed at disseminating operational standards to improve emergency case management and ambulance transport, as well as reviewing successful experiences in emergency care services and sharing expertise among the states. She added that the workshop sought to enhance the quality of emergency case management through the application of approved procedures, optimal use of resources, and utilization of data and information on emergency care and ambulance services as a tool for health planning.
For her part, the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Sudan, Suvari Bozerkova, affirmed that the UNDP continues to support the activities of the national emergency care and ambulance services and invests in developing the capacities of health sector personnel.