Federal Minister for Health, Mohammed Nasir Khan has inaugurated an Emergency Ambulance Service by Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) for the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
First Aid and Blood Transfusion facility will be provided to these ambulances. Ministry will provide free medicines and first aid facilities to PRCS for health, he added.
The minister health said that in co-operation with Pakistan Telecommunication, PRCS will be provided free access to internet and telephone numbers so that the helpless persons may approach PRCS without difficulty.
The PRCS has over the years provided it's services for relief to countless victims of natural and man made disasters, he added.
Nasir Khan appreciated the services of PRCS and said that since 1947 it is serving the needs of vulnerable and marginalised communities.
Federal minister admired PRCS services provided to Afghan Refugees in Pakistan as Pakistan Red Crescent Society is an active partner of the international movement dedicated to uplift of lives of most vulnerable.
"It is indeed essential that the humanitarian endeavours of relief agencies are well knitted for effective and efficient provision of services at the grassroots levels", he added.
He emphasised that peace must be revived in the world so there will be less wars, less mental agony and less need of ambulances.
He mentioned that the fast speed of driving must be reduced to eliminate high rate of roadside accidents. He considered it as a third killer. Chairman of PRCS, Jahan Dad Khan highlighted the achievements of the organisation and outlined it's future goals.He mentioned that similar ambulance services will be provided to provincial headquarters of Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.
He highlighted that ambulance services are being implemented by mobilising the indigenous resources available with National Headquarters.
All ambulances have been refurbished, fitted with oxygen cylinders and provided with first aid boxes. Each ambulance has been facilitated with services of a paramedical assistant to provide first aid to the victims of a disaster or terrorist act.
He explained the main features of emergency ambulance services and said that a control room established for 24 hours services in the premises of National Headquarters.
Staff on duty will control the employment of ambulances at the scene of incident and also co-ordinate with the emergency services, police and hospitals.
The communication between the control room and ambulances will be maintained with mobile phones provided to all ambulance drivers.