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Staying Alive: Villages receive bicycle ambulances

Countries
Uganda
Sources
Amref
Publication date
Origin
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Published: 27 January 2015
Marie Kinyanjui

To ease the transportation of expectant mothers from remote areas to health facilities, the Staying Alive Project in Uganda has donated five bicycle ambulances to Gweri, Asuret, Kamuda, Arapai and Tubur sub-counties in Soroti District.

Village Health Team members in the project areas received the bicycles, as well as umbrellas and bags. The project is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Internal affairs and implemented in Soroti, Kataki and Serere Districts.

The ceremony was held at Dakabela Health Center III in Soroti District on December 2, 2014. District Health Educator Martine Amodoi, representing the District Health Officer Dr Charles Stephen Okadhi praised Amref Health Africa for its work in the health sector.

“This is a big boost to the health sector in the district. I commend Amref Health Africa for the help and pray they continue supporting us,” Dr Okadhi said.

Simon Otiga, The Vice Chairperson of Soroti District, urged the beneficiaries to take care of the ambulances so that they can last long and serve the intended purpose – reducing maternal deaths.

“We should assume individual ownership of these ambulances. We should not consider them Amref Health Africa’s ambulances because our role here is not just receive the ambulances but also use them well,” Otija said.

Amref Health Africa also donated a pool table branded with Sexual and Reproductive Health messages to Dakabela Youth Corner. T-shirts, education materials, clocks and TV sets were also given to youth drop-in centres.