Health Cabinet Secretary Dr Cleopa Mailu on Tuesday flagged off five ambulances for transporting patients to the most appropriate health facilities for advanced care and treatment.
The vehicles, leased from the Peugeot franchise, for a period of four years, will be utilised in Mathari National and Referral Hospital, Spinal Injury Referral Hospital, Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa Ports Health.
The CS said the national government has identified strengthening of health referral system and ambulance services as one of the key areas of investment.
This is in a bid to fulfill Section 43(2) of the Constitution which states that no person should be denied emergency treatment.
He also said the national government will work hand in hand with county governments to device strategies that address challenges facing the health referral system, thereby contributing to the country’s obligation in the realisation of Vision 2030.
Dr Mailu disclosed that the Division of Emergency Disaster and Risk Management has co-ordinated for 60 trainers of trainers and 1,996 county health workers in ten counties, namely Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kirinyaga, Machakos, Bungoma, Kakamega, Siaya, Garissa and Kilifi.