Lamu County receives Sh7m boat ambulances

Lamu Health Department has received a major boost after an international charitable organization from the United States of America donated two boat ambulances worth Sh7 million to help deal with medical emergencies.

The donation was an addition to a tuk tuk ambulance that was already given by the Alkhair Foundation early this year.

Speaking during the official handing over of the ambulances at the King Fahad in Lamu County, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy expressed his gratitude for the donation, noting that one of the ambulances will be stationed in the islands and the other at the hospital for ease of response to emergencies.

According to Timamy, the new speed boats with six-passenger capacity, large seats, stretcher, oxygen, safety jackets, storage compartment for medical equipment, antenna and radio calls are meant to deal with urgent referrals, particularly maternal health cases from needy patients living in the Islands of Lamu County.

Alkheir Foundation regional representative, Mohammed Tarik Harunany, said their partnership with the Lamu County Government would continue, especially in the health sector and other areas with the aim of uplifting the living standards of Lamu residents.

On his part, Lamu County Executive for Health, Dr Mbwana Kombo, said the first donation of a tuk tuk last year by the same organization has helped ferry many people to hospital as it moves fast in the narrow streets of Lamu Town.

Currently, the county has four boat ambulances and four ambulances operating in the mainland to deal with emergencies.