Community ambulance service in Naogaon remains suspended for yrs

NAOGAON, July 17: The community ambulance service in Raninagar upazila of the district has remained suspended for years due to indifference of the authority concerned.

Sources said the community ambulance service was launched under eight unions of the upazila with eight ambulances in 2015-16 fiscal year, funded by Local Government Support Project (LGSP)- 2, aiming to ensure Maternal and Child Health (MCH) care in the areas.

The eight battery-operated ambulances were handed over to the respective union parishad authorities to supervise their operations that time.

Drivers of the ambulances informed the ambulances were of below standard. The battery and other machinery used in all the eight ambulances became ineffective few months after launch of the service.

But nobody came forward to repair the ambulances in spite of several reminders, they added.

The drivers further said, if the ambulances are not fixed soon, rest of the machinery may be damaged forever.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Al Mamun said the ambulance service was launched in the upazila for a greater purpose.

We are trying our level best to repair the ambulances and resume the service as early as possible, Mr Mamun added.

[email protected]