From left, Ali Sami Al Jarah, Specialist at Lakhwiya Medical Unit; Motaz Mahmoud Ibrahim, Manager of Medical Unit, Lakhwiya; Fahad Abdullah Al Maadid, Lieutenant Colonel, Lakhwiya; Nasser Al Khanji, Manager, Planning and Development Section, Mowasalat; and Mohammad Ali, Manager, Karwa Service Section, Mowasalat; at a media briefing at the Mowasalat headquarters in Doha on Thursday. . (Salim Matramkot)
DOHA: The Internal Security Force (Lakhwiya) in collaboration with Mowasalat has launched the first urban bus-turned “mobile field hospital” in the country to treat victims during large-scale emergencies.
A Karwa bus has been converted into a mini-hospital, with examination and treatment rooms, X-ray and laboratory, among other high-end facilities.
The Minister of State for Interior Affairs H E Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani toured the bus during its official launch on Thursday, accompanied by senior officials from Lakhwiya and Mowasalat.
The bus is different from other mobile clinics and ambulances in the country in terms of the range and diversity of the services, said Dr Mootaz Mahmoud Mohamed, Medical Director at Lakhwiya, addressing a press conference at Karwa Training Centre.
“Having this “mobile field hospital” on hand for large scale emergencies can be a tremendous resource when it comes to providing emergency services,” he said.
The vehicle is designed to provide mass casualty incident response and transport, medical evacuations, onsite triage, EMS rehabilitation and medical support during emergency incidents
The facility is the result of a collaborative effort involving experts from Lekhwiya, its medical rescue services and Mowasalat (Karwa).
“We are pleased to announce the first line technology, the portable and multiple patient capability is now being offered by Mowasalat making it an ideal accessory for first line emergency response,” said Nasser Al Khanji, Strategy and Business Development Director of Mowasalat.
The 12-meter long unit comes equipped with stretchers and can accommodate eight casualties and medical personnel for transport. The mobile clinic has seven treatment areas including; beds for the seriously injured, a first aid couch for treating people with minor injuries and a fully-equipped mobile treatment room when there is a need to treat people at the scene or transport them to hospitals.
“Great care has been taken to ensure sensitive medical equipment is properly mounted and installed in position convenient to doctors and medical personnel onboard. Medical and general equipment are chosen to match local, in-country service and warranty locations,” said Al Khanji.
The bus includes vital signs monitor with central monitoring system, infusion pump, breathing apparatus such as centralised oxygen and air supply, independent vacuum and ventilation and a mobile nebuliser. The vehicle is also equipped with ultrasound, wireless mobile X-ray imaging device, cardiac defibrillators, and a wireless ECG machine.
It also has an examination couch and ortho operating table with surgical lamp for minor operations. Other special features include an ENT diagnostic portable set, urine analyzer and other laboratory testing devices for the medical personnel working onboard.
The Peninsula
