Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is struggling to provide adequate ambulance services due to a shortage of vehicles in the fire and ambulance department, according to Chamber Secretary Sikhangele Zhou.
Zhou said the city requires at least 30 ambulances to operate effectively but currently has only seven. Of these, five are fully equipped with state-of-the-art life support systems, while the remaining two require further upgrades.
Speaking at a handover ceremony on Fridayโheld alongside a pass-out parade for the cityโs latest group of graduating firefightersโZhou said BCC had received additional fire trucks and equipment through Operation Florian.
โWe need more ambulances in our department. We only have seven out of the required 30, which has affected our ability to deliver services when residents need them most,โ she said.
She added that some older ambulances had been restored, bringing the number of operational vehicles to an average of seven. โFive of these are fully equipped with state-of-the-art life support systems, but the two resuscitated ones lack essential equipment. However, they can still be used to transport patients,โ she explained.
Zhou said that when demand exceeds capacity, the council refers emergency calls to private ambulance providers. However, this is often met with resistance from residents.
โThere have been instances where we have advised residents to seek services from alternative providers due to overwhelming demand, but this has been met with strong resistance. We urge residents to understand the challenges we face due to the shortage of ambulances,โ she said.
