Ambulance support brings hope

Save the Children, implementing the Basic Social Services (BASES) under Peace and Development Program [PDP] with the funding support from DFID and in partnership with its consortium members International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief Ethiopia and Ogaden Welfare & Development Association purchased fifteen well equipped ambulances with a total cost of 12,620,912.81 ETB, ($644,581.86) and handed over twelve of them to the Somali Regional Health Bureau. The ambulances were delivered in a colourful ceremony organized in Jig-Jiga and attended by government officials, and donor, community and NGO representatives.

During the handover ceremony, John Graham, Save the Children Country Director said, “Though Ethiopia leads the way in Africa in tackling maternal deaths; there is still a long way to go to achieve MDG5.”

“The ambulance support is part of our long term commitment to improving access to basic health services for the communities of the Somali Region”

Abdi Mohammud Omer, President of the Ethiopian Somali Regional State, said, “The fleet and resources we received will be used wisely and efficiently for the intended purposes”.

The event also saw the handing over of the keys of the 12 ambulances by John Graham to Abdi Mohammud Omer the president of the Somali Regional State