The Chief Executive Officer of the National Ambulance Service (NAS), Dr. (Med) George Kojo Owusu, has paid a working visit to the Juaben Ambulance Station in the Ashanti Region as part of his ongoing engagement with frontline staff and efforts to strengthen emergency medical service delivery across the country. During the visit, the CEO interacted with staff, assessed operational activities at the station, and inspected ongoing expansion and renovation works aimed at improving the station’s capacity and working environment. As renovation works continue, staff are temporarily operating from office space provided within the Juaben Municipal Assembly. Dr. Owusu therefore paid a courtesy call on the Assembly, where he met with the Head of Finance, Mrs. Monica Ofori, and expressed appreciation for the Assembly’s support and collaboration with the Ambulance Service. Addressing staff, the CEO thanked them for their dedication and the warm reception accorded him. He encouraged them to remain focused and resilient despite the challenges associated with emergency medical service delivery, emphasizing the importance of keeping as many ambulances as possible in active service to ensure timely emergency response. Dr. Owusu disclosed that the National Ambulance Service is working closely with the Ministry of Health to secure adequate funding for the repair of grounded ambulances and the acquisition of additional vehicles. He noted that approximately 100 new ambulances are expected to be added to the fleet next year, a move expected to further strengthen the Service’s operational capacity nationwide. On capacity building, the CEO highlighted the Service’s commitment to continuous professional development, indicating that preparations are underway for the Advanced Batch 5 training programme. He added that additional training opportunities would be rolled out for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), particularly EMT-Bs, to enhance their clinical competencies, including skills such as intravenous line insertion. He also urged NAS drivers to renew their driver’s licences promptly and encouraged station staff to maintain strong engagement with their respective Municipal Assemblies through the timely submission of operational reports. Dr. Owusu further disclosed that work is ongoing towards the development of a Legislative Instrument (LI) for the National Ambulance Service. The visit concluded with an inspection of the ongoing renovation and expansion works at the station, during which the CEO engaged staff on the progress of the project and reiterated management’s commitment to improving infrastructure, strengthening operations, and supporting personnel to deliver quality prehospital emergency care.
