Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister for Health and Population, Government of Sindh, graced the occasion and cut the ribbon to inaugurate the newly branded ambulances. This marked the official launch of Karachi's first ever government-backed, free of cost, lifesaving ambulance service. This welcome development is the actualization of the Sindh’s government’s earlier promise of providing quality and free of cost emergency medical service for the citizens of Karachi.
It is to be noted that the Sindh government initiated its formal support to Aman Ambulances, which had been operating in Karachi through a fleet of 60 lifesaving ambulances in October 2018. During this period, 74776 lifesaving interventions were made, and 11 babies were delivered inside the ambulances, which now bear the emblem of the Sindh regime and are branded as the Sindh Rescue and Medical Services. The provincial government intends to expand the size of this fleet incrementally to 200 to cater to the twenty million population of this megapolis.
A successful project by the name of the Sindh Peoples Ambulance Service is already underway in the districts of Thatta & Sujawal with 25 lifesaving ambulances since 2017. During the last two years, 51120 lifesaving interventions were made, including the delivery of 151 babies in the lifesaving ambulances en route to the health facilities.
The Health Minister reiterated the Government of Sindh’s endeavor towards exemplary public service during the ceremony. “Today is a great milestone for the people of Karachi and fruition of the Sindh Government’s unwavering efforts and resolve to facilitate the citizens of this province. We greatly look forward to expanding this lifesaving ambulance service to all districts of Sindh in an incremental manner at the earliest.”
CEO, Aman Foundation, Mujahid Khan, also expressed his gratitude at the launch of the Sindh Rescue and Medical Services. "We are very excited to continue working with the Sindh Government towards this pioneering partnership for setting up world-class emergency medical services in Karachi and Sindh. Today marks for us the true actualization of the Aman Foundation’s founding vision of bringing about systemic change by incubating public service initiatives for the under-served, and scaling them through strategic partnerships. ”
The ceremony was attended by the Secretary Health and other senior officials from the Ministry of Health as well as the CEO and senior team members from Aman Health Care Services.
The Sindh Rescue and Medical Services ambulances will continue to be run by the able team of Aman Health Care Services whereby the quality control and protocol will remain consistent to their decade-long experience in the field of emergency medical services, for the benefit of the public.
As before, the pre-hospital emergency care ambulance service is available by dialing 1021. As has been the practice in the past, and in line with global best practices, the service will prioritize critical and lifesaving interventions across Karachi.