Getting an ambulance anywhere in
Zimbabwe will now be as easy and as
simple as a click on your mobile phone following the launch of Vaya
Ambulance service today.
The launch follows research by Vaya
– a subsidiary Cassava-On-Demand Services –
that revealed that there were over 130 active ambulances in the country
operated by the Government, mission hospitals, local authorities and private
players.
The company said it intends to
register every single ambulance on the Vaya Ambulance platform. It said its
digital platform would connect tracking devices to the ambulances, enabling
real-time tracking on any road in the country.
“Once a person calls for an
ambulance, the platform will offer the nearest ambulance and also show the
nearest hospital or trauma facility. And in addition, relatives will be able to
follow the journey of the ambulance on their phone as it comes to them and also
as it heads to the hospital emergency,” said Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe CEO Mr
Eddie Chibi, speaking at the launch of the service in the capital Harare.
The event was attended by several
ambulance service providers, including Harare City Ambulence, Netstar, EMRAS,
St Johns Ambulance, MARS, Rubatsiro Ambulance service, Belvedere Medical Centre
Ambulance service among many others.
Mr Chibi said part of Vaya’s plans
were to include Air Ambulance services that would ferry a patient within
Zimbabwe or even out of the country.
“The digital platform is designed
to create efficiency in the allocation of a scarce resource and amplify
availability,” said Mr Chibi.
The Chairman of the Private
Ambulance Services Association of Zimbabwe, Mr Craig Turner, applauded the
launch Vaya Ambulance, saying for the first time, the Vaya platform would bring
together ambulance service providers in a coordinated and efficient manner that
would help patients and save more lives.
Netstar CEO Mr Shar, who attended
the event, also commended Vaya for
introducing a platform that would help save lives and offer convenience
to patients.
“Our 130 ambulances will be like 1
300 ambulances once they are all on the platform. We will also know which parts
of the country have limited resources and redirect the ambulances to those
areas,” said Mr Chibi.
He said thousands of lives are
expected to be saved following the launch of the service.
