Background
Having delivered close to 18,000 bicycles in Zambia over the past 16 months, World Bicycle Relief has earned the reputation of supplying strong, reliable bicycles supported by a network of well-trained field mechanics. Transaid, together with World Bicycle Relief and Disacare, a Lusaka-based organization that manufactures durable mobility aids for persons with physical disabilities (www.disacare.org.zm), are piloting a bicycle ambulance trailer program in the Eastern Province of Zambia through a grant from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Transaid's role
Transaid, leading a consortium of international NGOs, has been successful in securing funding from the Canadian International Development Agency to undertake a rural access project for the production and distribution of bicycle ambulances in Zambias Eastern Province. The aims of the project are to produce and distribute two models of bicycle ambulances to 40 community health workers who have already been empowered with bicycles through World Bicycle Relief as part of the RAPIDS project in Zambia.
Process
The two models, designed with input from bicycle ambulance experts including Design for Development, Bicycle Empowerment Network Namibia and Disacare Zambia, will be compared and evaluated to measure their appropriateness in the field, durability and suitability for the task at hand.
The ambulances are being fabricated by Disacare, a local Zambian NGO which specializes in the production of wheelchairs. The production and distribution of the ambulances will have an impact reaching beyond the improved access to healthcare experienced by the rural populations. The study of these two designs will serve to provide guidance for future rural access projects regarding both the design and project methodologies.
During the production phase of the project 10 mechanics who have already been trained by World Bicycle Relief will receive vocational training in the production and maintenance of the bicycle ambulances. The aim of this project component is to build capacity in the rural areas of Zambias Eastern Province to produce and maintain bicycle ambulances for future projects.
Partners
Transaid is working with a consortium of international NGOs, including World Bicycle Relief and Disacare. In addition, Transaid is in discussion with both the global Transport Knowledge Partnership (gTKP) and the International Forum for Rural Transport Development (IFRTD) about how to disseminate the findings of the project.
Results
While this is a pilot program, it is hoped that the lessons learned through the monitoring and evaluation conducted by Transaid could become a model for thousands of bicycle ambulance trailers to enable rural populations to access health services.
This is a perfect example of how the power of partnership can leverage programs: the durable bicycles and trained field mechanics of World Bicycle Relief; the administrative and management expertise of Transaid, the design and manufacturing capabilities of Disacare; the caregiver networks of World Vision and CARE empowered by RAPIDS; and, of course, the funding of the Canadian High Commission. These organizations can come together with their respective strengths to help more people.
