GBARNGA, Bong County – The Bong County Health Team has received three new ambulances from a batch of 25 Toyota Land Cruiser ambulances procured by the Government of Liberia, alongside two pickup trucks purchased by the administration of the C.B. Dunbar Hospital, in a move aimed at improving emergency healthcare delivery and referral services across the county.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Bong County Health Officer Dr. Daanue Paye Zuogbaye announced plans to strategically deploy the ambulances to underserved parts of the county to improve emergency response times.
According to Dr. Zuogbaye, one ambulance will be stationed in Totota, lower Bong County to serve residents of Salala, Sanoyea, and surrounding communities. He noted that placing an ambulance in the area will significantly reduce delays in transferring patients to referral facilities.
“We want the ambulance to be close to the people who need it. By stationing one in Totota, emergency cases can be responded to much faster than having to dispatch a vehicle from Gbarnga,” he said.
The County Health Officer stressed that the ambulances are strictly for medical emergencies and patient transfers, warning against their misuse for personal transportation or other non-medical purposes.
“These ambulances are not private vehicles. They should only leave their assigned facilities when responding to emergencies or transporting patients,” Dr. Zuogbaye emphasized, recalling past instances in which ambulances were reportedly misused and damaged.
He further disclosed that another ambulance will be assigned to the Panta District#4 region to serve communities including the District’s northeastern corridor and nearby towns to strengthen referral services in that area.
Dr. Zuogbaye also revealed that one of the newly procured ambulances has been designated for the C.B. Dunbar Hospital in Gbarnga. He explained that the county health team had previously provided a temporary ambulance to the hospital and would now reassign that vehicle to another facility in need.
The health official praised Liberia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, for her commitment to improving healthcare services nationwide.
He recalled that Bong County was among the first counties visited by the minister after she assumed office and credited her leadership for prioritizing reforms aimed at strengthening Liberia’s healthcare system.
Despite the new additions, Dr. Zuogbaye said the county still faces a significant shortage of ambulances.
“We estimated that Bong County needs at least 13 ambulances. With these three new ones and the three older ambulances already in operation, we still have a long way to go. We continue to appeal to our leaders and partners to help provide additional ambulances for the county,” he said.
Representing the county leadership, Bong County Administrative Officer Sam Elliott hailed the delivery of the vehicles as evidence of the government’s commitment to fulfilling promises made to citizens.
“This government is demonstrating that when commitments are made, efforts are taken to fulfill them. Today, the people can see tangible results for themselves,” Elliott said.
He urged members of the Bong County Council to allocate funding for the operation and maintenance of the ambulances, noting that fuel, servicing, and repairs are essential to keeping the vehicles operational.
“These ambulances will require regular maintenance and fuel. The County Council has an important role to play by ensuring resources are available to support their operation,” he said.
Elliott also highlighted the county administration’s continued support to the health sector, noting that healthcare remains a priority in county development planning. He cited recent county-funded initiatives at health facilities across Bong County and pledged continued collaboration with the Ministry of Health to improve healthcare services.
The commissioning of the ambulances and pickup trucks is expected to significantly enhance emergency medical response and patient referral services, particularly in remote communities where access to healthcare remains a challenge.
