New ambulances arrive in TT

HEALTH MINISTER John Rahael yesterday disclosed that the first batch of new ambulances earmarked for the Emergency Health Services (EHS) have arrived in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Minister told Newsday that seven ambulances arrived in TT within the last week and are expected to be handed over to the EHS by the end of this week. Rahael said their arrival is in keeping with the Health Ministry’s commitment to ensure that the nation’s health-care providers have all the necessary tools to deliver quality health care to the population. These ambulances form part of an agreement last year between Government and the United Nations Development Programme to supply 40 brand new ambulances to the EHS.

Former Health Minister Colm Imbert, under whose tenure the agreement was signed, had repeatedly condemned the former UNC government for purchasing second-hand ambulances for the EHS and causing that service to deteriorate. UNC chairman Wade Mark admitted that while the former regime did buy second-hand ambulances for the EHS, it was the PNM which caused its deterioration.