Over 3,800 cases handled by KK Lions Ambulance
KOTA KINABALU: The Kota Kinabalu Lions Ambulance Services Society (LASS) has attended to 3,877 cases since starting its operations in 2011, with cases ranging from critical emergency situations down to simple services, such as transferring patients from point to point.
Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, said LASS had fared well when bench-marked against other ambulance services in Kota Kinabalu, in terms of timeliness, professionalism and courtesy.
“Hence, it is fair to say that, on balance, LASS is of a high standard and quality,” Yeo stated in his speech, which was delivered by Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) director-general Datuk Joannes Solidau at the Run to Save Lives 2017 organized by the society here yesterday, where some 1,280 runners took part in the first fund-raising run organized by LASS.
Yeo added that City Hall would like to work hand in hand with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to improve the city and lives of the people.
“With their eight years of service, there is an opportunity for City Hall to look into joint activities with LASS at the Gaya Street Sunday market. I am sure there are many other opportunities for a fruitful collaboration between us. I hope all of us will always support City Hall in achieving our vision, which is to make Kota Kinabalu a clean, green and liveable city,” he said.
Meanwhile, LASS chairperson Karen Koh said the purpose of the run aimed to not only create public awareness of its ambulance services, but also to raise funds so that the continuity of this service to the public would not be disrupted.
“Since the inception of LASS in March 2011, we have attended to more than 3,000 cases and have saved many lives. The running cost of our ambulance service is RM250,000 a year, and it is solely dependent on public donations,” she said.
Koh said LASS provided emergency ambulance service from home or site to the hospital free of charge.
As for services requested to transport patients from hospital to home after recovery or from home to hospital for medical review, or transfer from one hospital to another, these are considered as transportation and nonemergency cases, which LASS also provides with a nominal fee of RM150.
She explained that the fee charged for non-emergency cases was to prevent its services from being abused at the expense of people who urgently needed the ambulance service.
Koh said the society also hoped to collaborate with City Hall, the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), the United Sabah Chinese Community Associations of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK) and the Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) in organizing regular community health services and activities for the public to keep all Kota Kinabalu dwellers fit and healthy.
LASS is a voluntary, non-profit and service-oriented organization formed by members of the 17 Lions Clubs in Kota Kinabalu. LASS aims to provide free emergency ambulance services to people in the city and surrounding areas; to provide first aid training to students and the public; and to work hand in hand with the Lions Clubs to provide mobile health services to the rural areas.
Also present at the event were USCCAKK president Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen, KKCCCI president Datuk Michael Lui, Kinabalu Foundation chairman Datuk Chin Chee Kee and Kota Kinabalu Hokkien Association president Datuk Clement Yeh.