Team Herald
PONDA: The Ponda residents have demanded that more 108 Ambulances be stationed at Ponda Sub-District Hospital.
Stating that in time of emergency the Ambulances always reach the spot late, the residents demanded that more 108 Ambulances be stationed at Ponda Sub-District Hospital.
Locals say that there are four 108 Ambulances stationed at distant places in Taluka at Shiroda, Marcaim, Bethki and Usgao; but they are often fall short of attending to the growing accidents and emergency cases.
In absence of such services, accident victims have to wait for long time to get medical aid. Locals say that the hospital is in the heart of town, but the ambulance does not reach in time.
In an accident on Tuesday near Maruti Temple in Ponda, a scooterist hit an elderly woman while crossing the road due to which her leg was fractured. However, when contacted people found that 108 Ambulance was far away from Ponda and one available was at Usgao. So, the victim woman had to wait for more than half an hour in pain. Finally, police rushed for help and she was carried to Sub District Hospital in a police vehicle.
According to Dilip Naik, who is convener of Goa Road Safety Forum, the government should make available 108 Service in the heart of Ponda.
“The Sub District Hospital is in the heart of Ponda, but still the 108 ambulance long time. The ambulance should be available within 15 minutes to save life. A woman was injured seriously on her leg but the ambulance was not available at Ponda and so the police carried her to the hospital. It is necessary that seriously injured be put on stretcher and not directly into police vehicles and health minister should see to this problem,” he said.
When contacted 108 staff they said they can’t often reach on time if they remain busy with other cases.
