Currently, there is limited information on the state of emergency medical services (EMS) in Uganda. Most of the information focusses on studies either assessing EMS capacity and gaps at the national level especially in Kampala or identifying risk factors for specific emergency medical conditions (e.g., injuries).
However, when it comes to semi-urban or rural areas in Uganda, it is quite absurd to say the very least.
It is true that there are great weaknesses at every level of what should be a critical component in the healthcare system – one that deals with the ability to treat life-threatening conditions in a time sensitive manner. The Ministry of Health needs to speed up efforts to provide policies and guidelines, and to increase investments for the creation of a functional EMS in Uganda.
It is against this background that Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) together with the Ministry of Health are partnering to raise over $600,000 in donations to ‘The Uganda EMS Fund’ to support the set up of EMS and Call And Dispatch (CAD) centers in over 13 regions across the country.
The fund has so far received seed funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), with additional investment being sought to a tune of US$ 600,000. Ortus Africa Capital is supporting the establishment and management of the Fund.
14 areas have been mapped for the EMS CAD Centers:
- Arua Regional Referral Hospital
- China-Uganda Friendship Hospital Naguru
- Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital
- Gulu Regional Referral Hospital
- Hoima Regional Referral Hospital
- Jinja Regional Referral Hospital
- Kabale Regional Referral Hospital
- Lira Regional Referral Hospital
- Masaka Regional Referral Hospital
- Mbale Regional Referral Hospital
- Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital
- Moroto Regional Referral Hospital
- Mubende Regional Referral Hospital
- Soroti National Referral Hospital
An emergency medical service (EMS) system is defined as one that organizes all aspects of care provided to patients in the pre-hospital or out-of-hospital environment [1]. EMS is critical to the improvement of outcomes in patients with obstetric and medical emergencies and severe injuries, and other serious time sensitive illnesses.
To learn more about the fund and to be part of changing the health status quo by donating towards the fund here.
