By: Sir. Dr. Richmond Antwi Boasiako
In a shocking display of neglect, the Amenfi West Directorate of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) has been incapacitated for over a year, leaving the community vulnerable and in desperate need of emergency medical care. The municipal ambulance, crucial for responding to life-threatening situations, has been rendered inoperative due to an unresolved issue with its injectors, a situation that reflects a glaring deficiency in the maintenance culture of Ghana’s health sector.
Head of the Amenfi West Municipal Directorate, Sir. Lord Apetsi, has tirelessly voiced his concerns about the ramifications of this breakdown on numerous radio stations, yet his pleas for financial support to repair the dysfunctional ambulance have been met with indifference from relevant authorities. This neglect leaves many citizens facing dire situations, as they are forced to rely on private vehicles to transport loved ones to medical facilities, such as the Asankragwa Catholic Hospital and Samartex Hospital at Samreboi, further complicating what are already precarious healthcare scenarios.
Residents of Amenfi West are outraged. Families of patients requiring urgent transfers to facilities like the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi or larger hospitals in Dua Yaw Nkwanta and Cape Coast are discouraged by the unresponsive state of the NAS. This lack of functional emergency services is not just an inconvenience; it is, quite frankly, a matter of life and death.
As the people of Amenfi West continue to endure the consequences of this breakdown in emergency medical services, they implore the government for immediate action. The call for repair funds is not just a plea for a vehicle but a demand for the assurance that their lives matter, that their government stands ready to deliver on its promises.
Until the grounded ambulance receives the urgent repairs it needs, families in this region will remain at the mercy of their circumstances, living with the harsh reality that timely medical care is a luxury they cannot afford. The question remains: will the government step up, or will it continue to let citizens suffer in silence? The time for action is now, and the citizens of Ghana are watching.
By: Sir. Dr. Richmond Antwi Boasiako
