The people of Upper Manya Krobo in the Eastern Region are living through a growing health emergency as the only ambulance serving the district remains
The people of Upper Manya Krobo in the Eastern Region are living through a growing health emergency as the only ambulance serving the district remains grounded due to mechanical failure.
Shockingly, it would cost just about GHS 50,000 to repair and restore the vehicle that once stood as a lifeline for residents in medical distress — yet, months later, nothing has been done.
The broken ambulance, stationed at the Asesewa Government Hospital, has been out of service for several months.
During this period, residents have been left helpless in medical emergencies, often watching their loved ones to die while waiting for distant ambulances to arrive from other districts.
Ironically, the shed that houses the broken-down ambulance was constructed at a cost of over GHS 70,000, an amount that could have fixed the vehicle and saved lives.
Last week, tragedy struck again. A young man in Asesewa lost his life after an ambulance from a neighbouring district arrived too late to save him.
In another heartbreaking incident, a boy who accidentally drank poison also died because the nearest functioning ambulance had to travel a long distance before transporting him to the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua.
These repeated losses have sparked public outrage and frustration, especially as local authorities have failed to take decisive action.
In May this year, the Member of Parliament for Upper Manya Krobo, Bismark Tetteh Nyarko, publicly pledged during an interview on Trust FM to mobilize funds to repair the ambulance.
However, nearly six months later, the vehicle remains in disrepair, and the community is still waiting for his promise to materialize.
Health workers at the Asesewa Government Hospital say the situation is affecting emergency response and referral services.
With no functional ambulance, they are often forced to rely on private vehicles or tricycles to transport patients in critical condition — a practice that not only delays care but also puts lives at greater risk.
Residents and opinion leaders are now appealing to the government, the District Assembly, and well-meaning individuals to intervene.
They argue that Upper Manya Krobo deserves the same quality of emergency healthcare as any other part of the country.
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