10 fully equipped ambulances for Fiji from Korea
The transportation of local patients during emergencies has been boosted with an additional 10 new, and fully equipped ambulances to service the country.
These ambulances were donated from the Republic of Korea and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to Fiji, totalling more than $1million.
During the event, the Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs for Korea, Seung-bae Yeo, highlighted that improving the healthcare system was one of their priorities in Fiji.
“I acknowledge that healthcare is not only a priority here in Fiji but also for the Republic of Korea,” he said.
“The two countries have closely collaborated in many cases and during unprecedented times.”
The ambulances were locally revamped, converted from Hyundai H1 vehicles to fully equipped emergency vehicles.
The Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete, upon receiving the ambulances said the new fleet would connect the people directly to health care.
“Ambulance service is an integral part of the whole health service,” he said.
“In Fiji, we have continued to witness the increasing demand for ambulance services and our ambulances are always on the move to retrieve patients from their homes in the community, or from sites of motor vehicle accidents or other sites where the injured or sick are waiting, or to transfer patients between health facilities.”
Dr Waqainabete said the help from Korea came at a time when Fiji was in dire need of ambulances during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Our ambulances traverse many rugged and rough terrain throughout the country to access our remote communities,” he added.
Ambulance run per month
The ministry noted there was a high demand for ambulance services between December 2021, and April 2022:
Northern Division – They have an estimated 170 ambulance runs per month;
Western Division – They have an estimated 630 ambulance runs per month;
Central Division – They have an estimated 658 ambulance runs per month.