In Lhohi, patients are carried in a buggy or Rashu Pickup

It has been over a year since the ambulance in N. Lhohi was damaged beyond use, forcing residents to carry patients in a Rashu Pickup – a three-wheeler.

Lholhi Council’s vice president Ibrahim Mohamed Manik told Sun it had been a year since the ambulance in the island was last used. He said the condition of the ambulance was so bad, it cannot be fixed.

“So, patients are taken to the hospital in emergency situations in a Rashu Pickup,” he said.

Mohamed Manik said the council had received numerous complaints over the issue.

He said it was especially difficult to carry bedridden patients on the Rashu Pickup, and when it rains – officials need to put a canvas over the Rashu Pickup for cover – resulting in delay in carrying patients to the health center.

“The other night, it was a huge hassle to cover the buggy to carry a patient. And its very difficult for the people in emergency situations. That is why this has become such a heated issue,” he said.

A video showing Lhohi residents trying to transport a patient to a hospital in another island amid heavy rain has gone viral on social media. It shows the patient being carrying on a Rashu Pickup with a canvas pulled over for cover.

The person who shared the video said it showed how hard it was to transport patients in Lhohi, amid an outbreak of viral fever in the island.

Mohamed Manik said they had also been unable to effectively use the ambulance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The council said they and the health center had repeatedly raised the issue with Health Ministry.

Lhohi had not been on the list of islands where the last shipment of ambulances procured by the government were sent to.

“We requested them to include Lhohi on the list for the next shipment. But we don’t have any hope despite promises,” said Mohamed Manik.

He said residents of Lhohi felt hopeless.

He said the council wanted a temporary solution, until a permanent solution can be found.

“What’s important to us is for a temporary solution for the issue. We find that important, given there is no solution right now,” he said.

In a previous interview to Sun, Health Minister Ahmed Naseem said the government would arrange ambulances for islands to the best of the government’s financial capacity.

“The government will always work to bring in things such as ambulances that offer convenience to people. But its only possible to the best of the government’s financial means,” he said.