Entrance of national parliament/ Photo by Lou Nelson/13.04.2023

The national parliament has resolved to build to establish an internal clinic and procure an ambulance to respond to medical emergencies from the legislators.

The decision was reached after a member of the August House made the proposal on Monday.

Lawmaker Naomi Thomas cited an incident where several MPs almost died after collapsing during the last parliamentary sessions.

Speaking ahead of the passing of the National Public Health Institute Bill on June 19, the lawmaker said it was necessary the parliament have an ambulance and a clinic to respond to such health emergency.

MP Thomas said some of the lawmakers suffer from diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and may require urgent intervention.

“Madam Speaker, since I joined this parliament, I have not seen any health measures put in place in case of emergency,” he said.

“In any institution like this, we are supposed to have ambulance on standby to address to the emergencies. If we can remember very well during the first season, some of our honorable members collapsed in this parliament and nothing to address their needs.”

“For that reason, I want to recommend the need of having health clinic to address such needs. We need to have ambulance on standby to response to the needs of these honorable speakers.”

In March 2023, Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba said at least 11 members of the national parliament died from different causes including COVID-19-related complications since beginning of 2022.

Responding to the concern raised on June 19, 2023, Nunu said a budget has been approved to purchase an ambulance and set up a clinic within the parliament building.

“I want to inform this house that, we already budgeted to provide ambulance for the parliament, that will be based here when there is a sitting,” she said.

Secondly, now that we have enough space, we are going to create a small clinic in that parliament. For first aid and first aid medications. The doctors and nurses will be there on standby to attain to their honorable members.”

Speaker Nunu did not disclose the approved budget for the clinic and the ambulance.