Few
things are as important as time when lives are to be saved.
In the tsunami-stricken province of Phang-Nga in southern Thailand,
hundreds of injured people were rushed to hospitals and healthcare
centres by whatever means of transportation was readily available.
One major constraint in this area, however, was the long distances
that had to be covered to reach medical attention.
Now the Finnish Red Cross has addressed this crucial issue by
providing the local health authorities with nine new ambulances.
“Even if we don't know when the next disaster is going
to strike, we still have to prepare for it,” says Timo
Korhonen of the Finnish Red Cross.
“As it takes more than one hour from the coast to reach
hospitals and healthcare centres in the region, emergency transportation
is of the utmost importance. Since some of the ambulances were
too old and not equipped for long-distance travel, an upgrading
was necessary.”
This is a view that is also shared by Dr Adikiat Irmworaniran,
an orthopaedist at the hospital of Phang-Nga which cared for
680 injured when the tsunami struck on December 26.
“In retrospect, there were enough hands, but the standard
of medical equipment has to be improved.
The new ambulances are a most welcome support to the local people
as we are preparing for future disasters. Therefore we would
like to extend our gratitude to the Finnish public and to the
Finnish Red Cross,” he says.
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Thai
nurses try out one of the new ambulances donated by the
Finnish Red Cross (p12911)
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Timo
Korhonen of the Finnish Red Cross, Dr Adikiat Irmworaniran
and a local nurse in front of one of the ambulances at
Phang-Nga Hospital (p12912)
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