Could motorbikes cut deaths in childbirth in Africa?

In Malawi, the eRanger motorbike has transported women in labour from health centres to hospitals faster than traditional ambulances. A private company, eRanger, manufactures motorbike ambulances, designed to cope with the toughest terrains.

The company believes its motorbikes could help cut maternal mortality rates in remote, rural areas and increase access to health facilities.



The e-Ranger ambulance is a high-powered multi-terrain motorbike with a sidecar stretcher "bed" for a patient. There is also space for emergency on-site medical supplies and room to carry a health worker out to remote communities.

The company also manufactures an e-Ranger immunisation clinic, which has a sidecar that folds out into a mini clinic with stainless steel work surfaces, refrigeration storage for vaccines, weighing scales and a clean water unit.



Motorbike ambulances have already been used in Sudan, Zambia and Malawi with considerable success.

The motorbike ambulances are stationed at health centres, and health workers or community members are trained to ride and maintain them, and record their trips in logbooks. The manufacturers expect their motorbikes would be able to better navigate difficult road surfaces than car ambulances, especially during rainy seasons.

Source.