Ramping Up Our Emergency Services

For years, St. John’s Kayoro Health Center (SJKHC) has provided quality health care services to people living in rural eastern Uganda. But one thing was lacking: reliable and effective transportation in the case of emergencies. With car taxis rare and expensive, and motorcycle taxis inappropriate for transporting a sick or injured person, it was difficult for a person in need to get to our clinic quickly. Give Us Wings’ van was sometimes a possibility, but it was often in use for other programs and was not equipped for medical treatment during transport.  

But all that changed in May 2025 with the arrival of a new “Tricycle Ambulance” at SJKHC thanks to generous donors. This vehicle will be available at the clinic 24 hours a day to respond to emergency situations or to bring current patients quickly to a more advanced facility when needed. The inside is equipped with a small cot, room for an attending health care worker, and cabinetry for medical equipment and supplies. The exterior features a siren, water-proof covering, and heavy duty wheels and shocks to navigate the area’s difficult terrain.

The new ambulance greatly improves the level of care we can provide to the community and will also raise awareness for the clinic itself. While no one wants emergencies to arise, we are so happy to now be able to react to them with more efficiency and effectiveness.