Taiwan ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines Baushuan Ger, on Monday, officially handed over four ambulances to the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment.
Ger presented the keys to the vehicles to Minister of Health, Sen. Luke Browne.
He told a ceremony at the Parking lot near the ministerial building that the four ambulances cost EC$500,000 in total.
The funding is from 2015 Civic Development Programme (CDP), a collaboration framework between Taiwan and SVG.
Ger said that the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines utilises the money under the CDP each year to implement important projects that benefit Vincentians in every sector.
“For the last few years, the monies have been used effectively on YES (Youth Empowerment Service) Programme, purchase of medical equipment, construction or renovation of bridges, roads and public buildings, as well as many other projects,” Ger said.
He said that in 2015, for the purpose of providing efficient and effective emergency health care for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, money under the CDP was earmarked through the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment for the purchase of the ambulances.
“Honourable Minister Browne, I believe, under your able leadership, the capable staff in your ministry will make best use of these ambulances as well as the advanced medical equipment installed inside and provide the best emergency pre-hospital medical care services to patients across the country,” Ger said.
The Ministry of Health has assigned the ambulances to the Chateaubelair Hospital, the Georgetown Hospital, the Sandy Bay Clinic, and the Stubbs Polyclinic.