Low cost ambulance for developing countries

A major concern of rural people in many developing countries, especially in sub Saharan Africa, is access to health services in an emergency. This is particularly true for women, as many emergencies involve complicated pregnancies or illness of young children. A 2004 conference of health organisations concluded that improved emergency health services were essential if millennium goals (MDGs) related to maternal and newborn health in Africa were to be achieved. This should include effective means for timely transport of patients to referral services. Conventional ambulances are expensive and difficult to maintain. There is clearly potential for appropriate lower cost versions to make the most of limited resources. Motorcycle-based ambulances are particularly appropriate since the technology is common and motorcycles are widely used in health outreach programmes. This paper describes the development and trials of a motorcycle ambulance trailer. Results are presented of a 9 month trial in Tanzania where a prototype operated over a 48km route between a rural health centre and referral hospital and from current trials in Zambia where a prototype is being used over a rough earth road from a rural clinic to referral hospital. The performance of the prototypes has been very encouraging both in regard to operating characteristics and impact.