Published on 16/12/2024
Lawmakers are calling for compulsory first aid training for police officers and motorists as a prerequisite for obtaining driving licenses. The proposal aims to improve access to emergency health services and reduce mortality rates caused by delayed medical assistance in Uganda.
The suggestion was spearheaded by Ruth Lematia, MP for Maracha East, and supported by Samuel Opio, MP for Kole North, during a multi-stakeholder engagement on advancing emergency medical services (EMS) in Uganda. The event was organized by Twaweza Uganda and held at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala.
Lematia emphasized the need for police officers to be trained in first aid, drawing from her observations during visits to the United States and the United Kingdom. She noted that police officers in these countries are equipped with first aid skills as part of their training.
“What I have learned is that our country has missed an opportunity with our police force. I grew up in a family of police officers, and my father often handled emergencies effectively because he was trained in first aid. Why don’t we teach our police officers first aid as part of their training, given that they are often the first responders at accident scenes?” she said.
Opio advocated for mandatory first aid and safety training for motorists, arguing that it should be a requirement before obtaining a driving license. “In some countries, you must undergo safety and first aid training before qualifying for a driving license. Uganda should adopt similar practices to ensure motorists are prepared to handle emergencies in their communities,” he said.
Challenges in Emergency Medical Services
While commending the government for increasing ambulance coverage at the constituency level to 54%, Opio highlighted ongoing challenges, including poor road infrastructure. He cited an example from Amudat District, where ambulances had to take a detour through Kenya to transport patients to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital due to impassable roads.
“Improving road infrastructure is crucial. It is not enough to have ambulances; we must ensure that road networks are functional to support emergency medical services,” Opio added.
Call for a Good Samaritan Law
Marie Nanyanzi, Senior Program Officer at Twaweza East Africa, called on Parliament to enact a Good Samaritan Law to encourage bystanders to assist accident victims without fear of legal or financial repercussions.
“Many Ugandans hesitate to help accident victims because they fear being accused of causing the injuries or being forced to pay medical bills for those they assist. Legislation to protect Good Samaritans would encourage more people to offer help during emergencies,” Nanyanzi explained.
Findings on Emergency Services
A Twaweza survey conducted in October 2021 and published in August 2023 revealed significant gaps in Uganda’s emergency response system:
- The average waiting time for emergency care at health facilities is 43 minutes, rising to 51 minutes in rural areas and falling to 29 minutes in urban centers.
- Only 5% of Ugandans are aware of toll-free numbers for medical emergencies, and just 2 out of 10 citizens know of ambulance services in their area.
- The most recognized providers of ambulance services are local MPs (10%), followed by the government (8%).
Nanyanzi highlighted the need for improved awareness of emergency services, noting that most citizens are unaware of available government ambulances.
Government Efforts and Funding Gaps
Dr. John Baptist Waniaye, Commissioner for Emergency Healthcare Services at the Ministry of Health, welcomed the proposal for a Good Samaritan Law. He acknowledged gaps in the current system, including insufficient funding and staffing for emergency medical services.
“Emergency medical services in Uganda are improving but remain underfunded. We need an additional UGX 17 billion to run a national ambulance service and UGX 12 billion for staffing,” Dr. Waniaye said.
He also stressed the importance of integrating first aid training into the education curriculum and community initiatives, aiming to train at least two individuals per parish in first aid.
A Call for Action
Dr. Sunday Kithula, Secretary General of the Emergency Care Society of Uganda, urged better distribution of ambulance services and increased public awareness. He noted that only 14% of Ugandans can access emergency services in a timely manner.
“Timely access to emergency care remains a significant challenge. Improving awareness and availability of emergency services must be prioritized,” Kithula said.
The engagement concluded with a strong consensus on the need for legislation, funding, and public awareness to enhance Uganda’s emergency medical services and save lives.
