Myanmar has opened its first ever emergency medical services (EMS) training center in Nay Pyi Taw in order to produce emergency responders for accident victims, Myanmar News Agency reported Friday.

U.S.-based Suu Foundation and China's Hong Kong-based Prudence Foundation will jointly provide teaching at the center in Zabuthiri township inaugurated on Thursday.

Noting that Myanmar has a huge number of people who were injured in road and traffic accidents and other emergency mishap, Minister of Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htwe stressed the importance to conduct emergency first aid on the spot and to systematically transport the victims to the hospital.

According to 2016 figures, 24 percent of such victims arrived in hospital by ambulances and the ministry imported 55 more ambulances in 2017.

The center plans for extension to Yangon and Mandalay, he added.

The minister called for establishing a national ambulance network by including ambulances from civil society organizations, charity and philanthropic organizations.

According to reports, a total of 103 people were killed with 877 injured in traffic accidents on Yangon-Mandalay highway in 2018.