Frequent breakdown of ambulances calls for urgent attention

A 30-year-old ASHA worker, who has been serving in rural areas by providing basic healthcare services, was left stranded for over two hours due to the breakdown of a 108 ambulance near Govindpur village under Erasama police limits.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE JAGATSINGHPUR, 5 JUNE:

She was eventually shifted to Erasama Community Health Centre (CHC) in critical condition on a motorbike with the help of local villagers.

This marks the third such incident within 30 days in which patients were left stranded due to defunct ambulances.

Susana Kandi, an ASHA worker from Gambharikana village suffered from severe diarrhea and vomiting late Wednesday. Her family had booked a 108 ambulance to shift her to Erasama CHC. However, the front tire of the ambulance burst near Govindpur village under Nardia panchayat, barely 3 km from her residence. There was no spare tire nor were the required tools there to replace the tire.

Her family then contacted the 108 ambulance service of Panchupalli PHC, but it too was non-functional.