Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has denied reports that Red Cross had withdrawn ambulance services in county.
Barasa said the 12 ambulances leases by the county government are operational, contrary to reports that they have been withdrawn.
“The ambulances are still functional. In fact, when an accident occurred on the Kakamega-Kisumu highway, the two units, which are equipped with ICU machines, were very useful,” Barasa said.
Barasa spoke when he visited survivors of the River Yala Iguhu bridge accident at the county general hospital.
The accident claimed 13 lives on Wednesday evening in Ikolomani.
He said the county government of Kakamega is committed to ensuring residents receive healthcare services despite delayed disbursement of funds by the exchequer.
He said the presence of Red Cross ambulances leased by the Vihiga county government on the scene of the accident did not mean that those from Kakamega had been withdrawn.
Residents of Kakamega have been benefitting from ambulance services in the wake of a renewed pact between Red Cross and the county government since 2015, when the deal was inked.
The ambulances were restored two months ago after close to a year of withdrawal of the services over non-payment of more than Sh70million.
Speaking while flagging off the ambulances two months ago, Barasa said the 12 new ambulances will now ply the 12 constituencies, allowing residents to access fully equipped emergency services.
“This partnership between Red Cross and the county government is worth Sh100million and will serve residents in the 12 constituencies for the next five years,” Barasa said.
Out of the 12 ambulances, two so-called ‘moving ICUs’ will be fully equipped with advanced life support.
“In this new five-year contract
with Red Cross, we are going to
have new ambulances replacing
the old ones,” he said.
