Story by Esther Adhiambo and Photos by Ondari Ogega
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) today joined the rest of the country in launching the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre and the Ambulance Evacuation Services Benefit Package, a landmark initiative under the Taifa Care programme that is set to transform emergency medical response through free, 24-hour ambulance evacuation services across all 47 counties.
The Kisumu launch, held simultaneously with the national event officiated by President Dr. William Samoei Ruto at the Social Health Authority (SHA) headquarters in Nairobi, brought together key county and hospital leaders led by Kisumu County Executive Committee Member for Health Dr. Gregory Ganda, JOOTRH Director of Clinical Services Dr. Mitei Paul and Director of Nursing Services Teresa Okiri. The event demonstrated JOOTRH’s central role in strengthening emergency referral services in the Lake Region and supporting the government’s drive toward universal access to emergency healthcare.
Nationally, the launch was attended by President Ruto, Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale, Kenyatta National Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, JOOTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Okise, Principal Secretaries, County Governors and other senior health stakeholders who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring every Kenyan has timely access to lifesaving emergency medical services.
The newly established National Ambulance Dispatch Centre introduces a centralized command system that will coordinate emergency medical evacuations and patient stabilization services around the clock. Through the toll-free emergency number 922, Kenyans can request ambulance services from any mobile network without airtime charges, enabling rapid response during the critical “golden hour” when prompt intervention can significantly improve patient survival.
Under the new Ambulance Evacuation Services Benefit Package, all ambulance evacuation and initial stabilization costs will be fully financed by the Social Health Authority through the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF). The package removes financial barriers to emergency care by ensuring patients receive lifesaving ambulance services regardless of their SHA registration status or financial capability.
The national system will operate a fleet of 596 digitally monitored ambulances deployed across all 47 counties. The fleet includes Basic Life Support ambulances for routine emergency transport and 85 Advanced Cardiac Life Support ambulances equipped with oxygen cylinders, suction machines, multi-parameter cardiac monitors, resuscitation drugs, intravenous fluids, delivery kits and surgical stitching sets to provide advanced pre-hospital care for critically ill patients.
Health officials said the dispatch centre is designed to manage approximately 20 emergency referrals daily equivalent to nearly 600 referrals every month including maternal and newborn emergencies, road traffic accident victims and patients requiring urgent surgical intervention. To improve efficiency and expand coverage, more than 200 accredited public and private ambulance providers have been integrated into a single digital command platform, with continuous evaluation of the reimbursement framework expected to ensure the programme’s long-term sustainability.
For JOOTRH, the launch reinforces the hospital’s strategic role as a leading referral facility in western Kenya, strengthening its capacity to coordinate emergency referrals and provide timely access to specialized care. By linking patients to a nationally coordinated ambulance network, the initiative is expected to reduce referral delays, improve emergency outcomes and ensure more patients receive lifesaving treatment when every minute counts.
