ADRA Malawi donates ambulance bicycles

By Elias Banda

Claudio addressing community members in Mulanje

ADRA Malawi has donated 60 bicycle ambulances to village communities in Mulanje, Mchinji and Dowa to ease transport challenges people face when ferrying patients to the health centers.  Transport challenges coupled with poor road network have caused patients including pregnant mothers to die before reaching the health centers.
In Mulanje,  ADRA  Malawi has donated 7 ambulances in Traditional Authority Chikumbu with support fromAyuntamiento de Elche from Spain. 53 ambulances have been donated to communities in Mchinji and Dowa with funds from Pamplona City Council in Spain. In Mchinji, 27 ambulances have been donated to 13 villages communities in Traditional Authority(T/A) Kapondo and Sub T/A Simphasi.

handing over the ambulance to the community in Mchinji

Women  expressing happiness after receiving ambulance

In Dowa, 13 villages would benefit from 26 ambulances donated in Traditional Authorities; Kayembe, Chakhaza and Dzoole.
Speaking in an interview, ADRA Malawi Country Director Claudio Sandoval said the donation was a response to community needs and that the ambulances would enable patients get to the health centers much faster. He expressed the importance of mutual partnership existing between ADRA Malawi and her community partners. He urged community members to use the ambulances effectively and build trust in their leaders.
In Mulanje, the ambulances are expected to benefit 5, 700 people who would now able to take patients to Mulanje District Hospital or other health centers within the reasonable time.