The Social Health Authority (SHA) has submitted the progress report of the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre to the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Health Aden Duale.
The Centre, which according to the report is at an advanced stage of completion, has the core dispatch systems already in place and is undergoing testing ahead of the rollout of the Emergency Evacuation Services Programme.
In a meeting with the SHA team led by Chief Executive Officer Dr Mercy Mwangangi, CS Duale assessed the preparedness for the national rollout, including emergency response infrastructure, dispatch operations, staffing, ambulance accreditation, public communication and implementation timelines.
SHA reported that it is finalising key technical and operational requirements, including systems integration, specialised installations, ambulance accreditation and validation of the implementation schedule.
The Authority also outlined plans to introduce the proposed SHA 112 Lifeline, a unified national emergency response identity designed to provide the public with a single, easily accessible point of contact for emergency assistance across the country.
On workforce preparedness, SHA confirmed that recruitment and training of dispatch personnel have been completed and officers are expected to support emergency call management, customer service and claims processing functions.
“Additional drills and simulation exercises will also be conducted to strengthen operational readiness before launch,” stated Dr Mwangangi.
During the meeting, the Authority revealed that more than 100 ambulances have already been accredited following compliance assessments, with efforts ongoing to expand participation across all counties, particularly in areas with limited emergency transport capacity.
To support the roll out, SHA is preparing a nationwide public awareness and stakeholder engagement campaign that will leverage traditional and digital media, community outreach initiatives, county governments, healthcare providers and local administration structures to educate the public on accessing and utilising the service.
Reacting to the report, Duale commended the progress made and emphasized the need to sustain implementation efforts to ensure timely operationalisation of the programme.
Once launched, the Emergency Evacuation Services Programme and National Ambulance Dispatch Centre are expected to strengthen emergency medical response by providing coordinated, timely and equitable access to emergency and specialised healthcare services across Kenya.
by Michael Omondi
