By Patrick Stephen Tokpah/BONG
Residents of Panta Electoral District 4 have accused the Bong County Health Team (BCHT) of allegedly abandoning former Senator Henique Flomo Tokpa’s ambulances in the county.
According to the residents, the ambulances were intended to transport patients from the villages in the districts to referral hospitals in Bong and other Counties, but it has been completely abandoned.
“Our people suffer a lot in getting patients to bigger hospitals in Gbarnga and other areas. In some instances, the patients can even have serious complications or die before reaching the hospital because sometimes, if you call the ambulance, the people will say the ambulance is not around. They will even ask the patient’s parents to transport said patient through a private vehicle to the clinics or hospitals,” Moses Dolo, a prominent son of Foloquelleh Town, Panta District, added.
It can be recalled that in 2022, five of Bong County’s seven electoral districts were the scene of jubilations and celebrations, when Dr. Henrique Flomo Tokpa donated a total of five ambulances to those districts.
With the exception of electoral districts 3 and 5, all other districts got an ambulance, each donated by the Senator.
During the time, former Senator Tokpa, however, disclosed that Fuamah district would receive two ambulances because Sanoyea is not connected to Fuamah by a paved road.
Tokpa promised that three remaining ambulances would be delivered to Districts 3,5 and Sanoyea; something which he failed to do.
He put the total cost of the five ambulances to almost US$30,000.
On the contrary, the ambulances have been allegedly abandoned by the administration of the Bong County Health Team in the County, thereby causing patients to suffer in accessing ambulances.
However, when contacted, the Administrator of the Bong County Health Team, Sam Siakor, said the vehicles weren’t in good condition.
He further stated that Dr. Tokpa’s ambulances are all parked in the various districts due to mechanical faults, and the County Health Team is trying to repair them or scrap them and use the finance for the various health facilities to whichF they were assigned.
Despite the breakdown of the former Senator’s donated ambulances, Siakor said the County Health Team remains committed to providing ambulance services to the citizens in the County.
