Region donates decommissioned ambulance

York Region has donated a decommissioned ambulance to an organization that supports dialysis patients in rural and underserved areas in Guyana.

The Voice of the Vedas Global Care Outreach – Guyana Dialysis accepted the ambulance in a ceremony at York Region Paramedic Services Headquarters in East Gwillimbury.

The decommissioned ambulance will provide access to lifesaving treatment, eliminate transportation barriers and support better long-term outcomes for dialysis patients. It will help ease the emotional and financial burden on families and strengthen the local health care system, the Region reports.

York Region decommissions ambulances when they reach a life cycle of five years or 250,000 kilometres. Donating decommissioned ambulances to organizations and health care partners enhances their capacity to support communities in need, it notes. Since 2014, York Regional Council has approved the donation of 15 decommissioned ambulances to not-for-profit, community or international organizations.

From left, Jeremy Watts, Acting Chief, Paramedic Services; Lisa Gonsalves, Commissioner, Community and Health Services; Dr. Budhendranauth Doobay, Founder of Guyana Dialysis; Roy Doobay, Voice of Vedas; Chris Spearen, Acting General Manager, Paramedic and Seniors Services. Photo courtesy of York Region.