Case Study 1 :
Upgrading to Bicycle Ambulance,
Nawalparasi District
![[speaker icon]](images/im-icon-speaker.gif) Audio
: Narration of Case Study 1
Flash player is required to hear the audio. Click
here to get it.
Basu Chaudhari of Ward No. 8 (Bholebaba Community Organisation) in Parroha
Village Development Committee (VDC), used a bicycle ambulance while
in labour to get to the nearest road. Unfortunately, when she reached
the road, she could not get public transport. So, she used the
bicycle ambulance again to travel the 15 km to Butwal Zonal hospital
where she safely delivered her baby.
With the traditional 'khatiya' or 'stretcher ambulance' (a wooden
plank strung between two ropes) seen as outdated and only suitable
for short distances, lack of transport in many villages in Terai
is consistently identified as a major barrier to accessing emergency
health services.
In Nawalparasi, community members discussed this issue and came
up with the idea of using bicycle ambulances. Community members
and project staff visited a local engineering works to see a
model which cost about GB £100, developed with the help
of Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG).
After this, 22 bicycles were bought with funds from the District
Development Committee, District Health Office, Nepal Safer Motherhood
Project (NSMP) and two NGOs. These bicycle ambulances are now
used for emergency obstetric care (EmOC) and other health conditions
and are managed by community groups. Rules and regulations for
their use and maintenance have been developed, with 5-10 rupees
(about GB 7 pence!) charged for each trip and the money used
for maintenance purposes.
In a survey, the women and men who drive the ambulances said
that there were many benefits to them. These include that they
are:
- Easy and faster than rickshaws or khatiya.
- Comfortable - as they are designed for use on rough roads.
- Cheaper - as the service charges are very low.
- Suitable for use during Bandhs (transport strikes) - which
are common.
- Easy to repair and maintain.
|
