Expectant mothers in remote areas of Kajiado can now access medical services with some ease during childbirth following the introduction of bicycle ambulances.
The Eezer initiative and the County Government of Kajiado, through the ‘Together Together’ programme, are offering these “ambulances” as they seek to provide transport services to expectant mothers from their homes to the hospital.
Speaking while receiving 15 motorcycle ambulances from the Eezer Initiative, Kajiado County Executive Committee Member for Health Alex Kilowua said that the ambulances will help reduce maternal and neonatal mortalities associated with delayed responses to medical emergencies among pregnant mothers.
Kilowua noted that the ambulances will be stationed at some of the most rural facilities in Kajiado South, West, East, and Central sub-counties with the aim of transporting mothers who are about to give birth to hospitals.
On his part, Eezer Initiative CEO Lars Klingsbor remarked that transporting women from home to a clinic to receive qualified help in a cheap and secure way is a great challenge in many African countries, including Kenya, leading to high maternal deaths as some of the women do not reach the clinic in time.
He said that their goal is therefore to develop safe and cost-effective transport solutions for pregnant mothers and to have 3,000 motorcycle ambulances in Africa by 2030.
Klingsbor said that, in cooperation with the county authorities, they will have 10 Eezer motorbikes placed in different locations of the county in the next two years.
“Though we are working hard to make an impact, the big challenge is that this county would need another 115 eezers motorbikes,” said Klingsbor.
According to the United Nations Populations Fund Kenya (UNFPA), the number of women dying of pregnancy-related causes stands at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births in Kenya.
This means that there are nearly 500 women and girls dying annually due to pregnancy and childbirth complications, given the current number of births.
Over 80 per cent of maternal deaths are attributed to poor quality of care though many women survive with severe morbidity including obstetric fistula and mental health complications.
By Diana Meneto
