THE Ministry of Health handed over a brand new ambulance to the Lethem Regional Hospital last week after the previous ambulance, which served as the main means of transporting patients, had been destroyed by fire on Saturday August 25 at approximately 03:00hrs.

Director of Regional Health Services in Guyana, Dr. Irv Chan, said that mainly the interior seat, internal panels and medical monitors of the previous ambulance had been badly damaged, leaving the hospital with no means of transporting patients, should the need arise.
He noted that the Health Ministry immediately noted this lack of ambulance service, and decided to arrange for a new ambulance to be sent to the regional hospital shortly after the fire.
Dr Chan said he personally accompanied the ambulance to Lethem, and did the simple handing over ceremony with the Regional Chairman Winston Laurentino and Regional Executive Officer Mrs. Claire Singh.
Acting Regional Health Officer of Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo), Mohamed Ally, accepted the ambulance on behalf of the region, and expressed gratitude to the administration for its quick response. He pledged the effort to ensure that the new ambulance was properly cared for.