Bicycle ambulances save lives in Mozambique

As part of our goal of providing sustainable, cost-effective, long term solutions to the problems surrounding access to healthcare in Mozambique, LEPRA Health in Action has been using bicycle ambulances in one of our community health projects.

Bicycle ambulances are not only improving accessibility and quality of healthcare in the Zambezia province of Mozambique where they are being used, but are also boosting the local economy.

The bicycle ambulances are making a big difference to families living in remote areas of Zambezia province where they are being used to improve access to healthcare. The number of patients transported by bicycle ambulance has increased from 231 in 2008 to 2268 in 2009, with 80% of these being pregnant women and children under 5.

Each day our dedicated volunteers set off on their LEPRA adapted bicycles, covering long distances to visit patients in communities cut off from healthcare facilities in this country where barely 50% of the population has access to healthcare.

In addition to transporting heavily-pregnant women or patients weakened by TB, HIV/Aids to the nearest health facility, often many miles away across rough and uneven terrain, the volunteers and their bicycles bring healthcare services to remote communities, visiting patients’ homes to take saliva samples and checking on people taking medication. 

£20 could contribute to a shade to shield a patient on a bicycle ambulance from the harsh African elements

£75 could buy a stretcher to transport patients on a bicycle ambulance

£214 would pay for one more bicycle ambulance in Mozambique