President Uhuru Kenyatta has launched Kenya’s first national air ambulance service to evacuate security forces wounded in battle, a service vital to the speedy treatment of the agents.
“This is a crucial service, especially for our security officers, who put themselves on the front line against our enemies, to ensure that Kenyans are safe wherever they are,” Mr Kenyatta said at the launch in Nairobi.
The initiative, which is expected to boost the morale of security personnel facing multiple threats in remote areas, as several soldiers and policemen have bled to death or have died of dehydration following delays in receiving appropriate medical care.
President Kenyatta notes that the government will be working with other bodies to ensure the service would be successful.
The Red Cross and private firm AMREF Flying Doctors have signed an agreement to dispatch helicopters and vehicles as soon as distress calls are received.
Also, civil servants, especially those who work in the security field in rural areas with few medical facilities, will also benefit from the new scheme BBC reports.
