HAMIOTA — Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara visited Hamiota on Friday to answer complaints from the rural community about the shortcomings of its 24-7 emergency care centre and other health-related issues.

The minister, appearing before a crowd of roughly 75 people in the Hamiota Community Centre, spent an hour responding to questions and concerns.

Robin Johnston, a Hamiota resident in his 80s, complained that his wife Bette waited two and a half hours for an ambulance response, and said that it led to her death.

“Everybody here should be cheering that we should have an ambulance,” he said. “It would have saved my wife’s life.”

Asagwara acknowledged the problem.

“We know there is a shortage,” Asagwara said. “We agree — we think you should have an ambulance in your community. Absolutely.”

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