Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

The Zambulance

last updated Jul 23, 2012

Overview

Implementing organization: 
Zambikes, supported by Akerfa
Implementation Partner(s): 
Center for Disease Research Zambia (CIDRZ), Ministry of Health (MoH), National Malaria Control Centre (NMCC), World Vision Zambia, Catholic Relief Services Zambia
Legal Status: 
Public-private partnership
Year Launched: 
2008
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
Bottom 20%, 20-60% (lower to lower-middle)

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Government, In-kind contributions
Funders: 
Catholic Relief Services Zambia, World Vision Zambia

Technology

Technology Partner(s): 
Zambikes

Scale

Number of Clients Served: 
Over 600 Zambulances are operating throughout Zambia, averaging at least 1 case per week; estimated clients served is over 50,000
Number of Facilities Operated/Networked: 
Over 600 Rural clinics, provincial health centers, and communities throughout Zambia
Summary: 

The Zambulance provides medical transportation to people in developing nations, and is simply a bicycle trailer with a liquid-impervious mattress, which allows patients to lie flat in relative comfort. A curtain provides privacy, along with shelter from heat and rain. Equipment such as intravenous hangers are also available.

Program goals/rationale: 

According to a recent study, over 60 percent of people in developing countries live more than eight kilometers (five miles) from a healthcare facility and don’t own cars or have access to motorized ambulance services. When they require urgent medical attention, they often have to walk, are loaded into an ox cart or wheelbarrow, or have to sit on the rack of a bicycle.

Key program components: 

The Zambulance units include a bicycle ambulance, bicycle, tool kit, and spare parts, as well as support for distribution and training. In these clinics now people are being brought to clinics in ox carts, wheel barrels or not get to hospitals at all, but with Zambulances patients even 15 miles away will be able to get the much-needed care they need.

One of the greatest successes with the Zambulances currently in the field is that pregnant women are now able to get care when giving birth.

There are some limitations to the technology, namely, steep hills and muddy roads. With current advances in both electric bicycles and solar power, however, perhaps some of these will soon be addressed.

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Zambulance-Report-Summary.pdf59.76 KB
Malaria-Consortium-feedback-on-Zambulance.pdf103.93 KB
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