A new ambulance bus will arrive in Ukraine this week. It was funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and planned by the Norwegian health authorities. The bus will be used by Ukrainian medical personnel and will undoubtedly strengthen its capacity to transport patients both within Ukraine and abroad.
The bus is the first of five buses that Norwegian authorities send to Ukraine. All ordered buses will be manufactured at Volvo's factory in Säffle, Sweden.
- These buses will be an important contribution to health care in Ukraine. It is also very useful for Norway as the Norwegian authorities and Norwegian medical staff are gaining valuable experience in terms of health preparedness in a challenging and extremely real situation, says Minister of Health and Care Ingvild Kjerkol.
Possible thanks to EU cooperation
– Buses are a concrete example of Norway's support for Ukraine. These buses are made possible thanks to our cooperation with the EU under the EU Civil Preparedness Programme, UCPM (Union Civil Protection Mechanism), says the Minister foreign affairs Anniken Huitfeldt.
- Ukraine expresses specific needs, and Norway, as a full member of this agreement, has the possibility to implement them. Buses will make transport in Ukraine and beyond will be medically better. These buses will help save lives - says the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Provides treatment outside of Ukraine
Buses can transport everything from war-injured patients to patients with other serious illnesses. Most importantly, it gives Ukraine the opportunity to move the sick and injured, and to transport patients abroad.
- This means that Norway and other countries can more easily admit patients for treatment also outside Ukraine - says Kjerkol.
Rolling intensive care hospital
The Health Directorate, in cooperation with the University Hospital of Oslo, has professional responsibility for planning and working with ambulances. The buses function as a mobile intensive care hospital. They have five beds and most of the medical equipment, incl. for assisting breathing and monitoring the heart and blood pressure.
Doctors at Oslo University Hospital have extensive experience in the field of air ambulance and intensive care. Now they are also responsible for training Ukrainian medical personnel in the use of ambulances.
Photo: Helsedirektoratet / The first of five ambulances. The photo was taken in Rzeszów, Poland, where Ukrainian medical personnel are trained to operate a bus.
Source: regjeringen
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