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Botswana Ministry of Health invests in 120 new ambulances
The Ministry of Health Botswana invested in 120 new ambulances earlier this year. The ambulances were built by South African company, Emergency Vehicle Conversions (EVC) based in Jet Park, Ekurhuleni that specialises in basic, intermediate and advanced life support ambulances designed to suit your specific environment.
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“We completed 120 Toyota Quantum ambulances for Halfway Ngami Toyota in Maun, Botswana, for the Botswana Ministry of Health between March and the second week of July 2021. These had to be out in this time due to the budget period of the Botswana Ministry of Health”, said Jonty Rosenthal, managing member of Emergency Vehicle Conversions (EVC).
The vehicles that were used for the conversion are Toyota Quantum super long wheel base (SLWB) panel vans each fitted with park distance control (PDC) and reverse cameras as aids for the medics.
There were 74 standard ambulances for the Ministry of Health with one specification and 46 for Ministry of Health EMS Emergency Response division with a different specification.
All vehicles were delivered fully equipped with medical equipment as per the Botswana Ministry of Health specifications.
All vehicles had reflective branding either in Ministry of Health layout or EMS layout.
The floors and edges of floors with furniture and walls were covered in red polyurethane rubber coating for a safe and watertight ambulance.
The furniture was custom built to their specification in mild steel, sand blasted and then electro powder-coated in white to be able to be cleaned easily. All the furniture and brackets were produced to fit their equipment and with crew and patient safety in mind.
“We fitted Sitmed MWS 320 stretchers that are hard wearing and can take a large weight, with large wheels. These stretchers were redesigned for Southern Africa by the Brazilian manufactures with Oliver Wright of the South African Private Ambulance and Emergency Services Association (SAPAESA) and EVC’s input, as they are usually used in much bigger vehicles than we use in Southern Africa”, said Rosenthal.
All vehicles had the latest emergency warning lights, sirens and interior light designs with LED technology. The new ambulances were fitted with rear air-conditioners for the patient sections and supplied with factoryfitted in dash units. Full bulkheads with windows for communication to separate the drivers and patients compartments were fitted, which
is becoming a norm due to communicable diseases etc.
The new ambulances have secondary batteries to which the auxiliary electrical systems are connected. These run through an intelligent system that protects the vehicle’s battery and will make sure the vehicle does not have starting issues, the system will check the health of batteries and start charging the second battery after one minute of the vehicle running.
“We also had the inverters converted to only operate when the vehicle is running so the secondary battery is not drained while the vehicle is not being used. We have been fitting USB charging sockets for many years and these vehicles also had them installed in the patient compartment”, added Rosenthal.
The interior lights in the vehicle can be independently switched and dimmed as needed.
The vehicles have brackets to assist with holding equipment in such a way as to be user friendly and in reach of the treating paramedics.
Rosenthal said, “We are constantly moving towards better integration of systems and newer materials. We currently use a PVC foam board for walling, flooring and bulkheads which is recyclable, fire retardant, insect retardant and chemical resistant.”
“Newer technology in vehicles that are now being offered is also helping us integrate systems for crew, patient safety and can be used as driver aids, which is evident in our new project with VW South Africa for North West Province whereby they are offering EMS derivatives of the VW Crafter for ambulances. We also work with their technical department to make sure we integrate our technology and builds as best as possible with their systems. These vehicles are equipped from the factory or upscaled by EVC with the following equipment: rear view camera, wind stability control, park distance control and dual batteries, amongst others”, Rosenthal concluded.
