motorbike ambulances

4th May, 2009 - Posted by Helen Harrison -

if you have ever given birth to a child, or been involved in helping get a loved one to hospital in time for childbirth, then you will know how stressful that time is for all concerned. I was fortunate in going through the double child-birth of twins in a pretty contolled environment, but I have heard of plenty of experiences to know that it isn’t always so.
Imagine what it must be like to be living miles from the nearest health facility, with no transport, no money to pay for the occassional public transport, and to know that the baby is due imminently. That is the situation for the majority of pregnant women in African countries, who live in rural locations, many below the poverty line, and who have no easy access to free medical care.
So the article about motorbike ambulances on the BBC news website is a great read http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8022772.stm. This scheme is raising the chance of survival for so many pregnant women, in an area where a 15-year -old girl is more likely to die in childbirth than complete her education.
It’s a great read, and a gentle reminder of just how much we take for granted but which is such a luxury for the majority of the world. Oh, and check out the pictures - of the motorbike ambulance, and the welcoming committee!