The Ministry of Health and Social Services has pledged to resolve the critical shortage of ambulances in Otjozondjupa and other regions this year.

According to the Otjozondjupa Regional Health Director Gebhardo Timotheus, the shortage of ambulances in his region is still a major concern, having reached crisis levels by April 2024.

Timotheus said the region is served by only four ambulances that cover long distances daily from Okahandja to Tsumkwe.

He says they require 14 ambulances, given the vastness of the region.

At present, only four are in running condition, with high mileages nearing 600,000 kilometres.

Chief Public Relations Officer in the Health Ministry, Walters Kamaya, reacted to the concerns in an interview with NAMPA, saying the ministry has acquired 23 vehicles, specifically for conversion into ambulances.

The vehicles include 11 vans and six Toyota Land Cruisers, four of which were donated to the ministry by the World Health Organisation.

The next step, Kamaya says, is to convert the said vehicles into ambulances by fitting them all with the necessary medical instruments, tools, sirens, and beds.

They are then to be fairly distributed to the regions, including Otjozondjupa, a phase he says will begin as soon as the logistics are in place.