St John prides itself on being the City’s emergency ambulance service, and this is a basic need for our fast-evolving city and the people who live within.
More people are seeing the great work St John Ambulance is doing in NCD and Central Province.
However, the feeling amongst staff is disappointment with lack of funding from the National Capital District Commission.
An ambulance levy is urgently needed as the organisation tries to keep up with the increasing demand in NCD.
NCD Chief Superintendent Rigona Rita said St John Ambulance crews are responding to emergencies throughout the day and night across NCD and have to go to some of the most dangerous places in our city, in the middle of the night, to save mothers and babies, people badly injured in fights, house fires and accidents.
“St John Ambulance officers and paramedics are at the frontline of community violence and our officers sometimes become victims themselves; attacked while trying to help injured people,” Rita stated.
“Last year St John attended to 3,731 medical incidents in Port Moresby and the adjacent Central Province. This year we have already seen a doubling of emergency incidents in NCD with ambulance officers expected to attend to over 7,500 incidents this year.
“Forecasted growth suggests even more the next year.”
Deputy Chairman of the National St John Council, Ian Clough, said appropriate funding from NCD is acutely needed to ensure this vital lifesaving service continues without reduction in services.
He said talks of an ambulance levy by the National Capital District is innovative and welcomed, adding that a suitable interim funding measure must be in place until the levy can take effect. Without immediate funding, services may have to be reduced and this would have a dire effect on the people of NCD.
2018 is expected to be the busiest year yet, and with St John Ambulance supporting the APEC meetings and, with the help of Provincial Governments, expanding its services into key regional locations, St John is expected to grow exponentially over the coming three years.
Unfortunately, despite a number of commitments, St John Ambulance has not been allocated anywhere near the funding necessary for emergency services in NCD.
On the hand, the support from its partners and through its commercial services, the ambulance service is stronger than ever, with advanced training and new vehicles.
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