Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief - Uganda's eRanger Motorcycle Ambulance

eRanger motorcycle ambulance

CPAR-Uganda, with the generous donation of eRanger-UK has become the first NGO to pilot the exciting new eRanger motorcycle ambulance – the first of its kind in the country.

CPAR-Uganda Drivers Henry Odeke (left) and Anthony Lou (right) test-trial the eRanger ambulance in Kampala, before the ambulance and two trainers head for Purongo Health Centre in Amuru District, Northern Uganda.

The motorcycle ambulance will play a key role in supporting CPAR-Uganda’s maternal, newborn and child health projects. As part of the international RAISE Initiative (Reproductive Health Access in Emergencies) program implementation team in Uganda (in partnership with Marie Stopes-Uganda), CPAR is working to significantly improve maternal and newborn survival rates through the strengthening of Emergency Obstetric Care capacity at five rural clinics and hospitals in Northern Uganda. CPAR-Uganda is also introducing clinical treatment for sexual and gender-based violence cases in these clinic catchment areas. The RAISE initiative project will also bring significant improvements in the availability and quality of family planning, sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and treatment and Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV in remote and war-torn communities in Northern Uganda.

eRanger has been at the forefront of cost-effective and context-senstive adaptive technologies intended to benefit those most in need. The eRanger ambulance, donated to CPAR to pilot within its sphere of work of facilitating life-saving emergency-obstetric care for mothers and children in Purongo Health Centre (a level three facility), is another example of the company’s socially-conscious and entrepreneurial mix of work.

The CPAR-eRanger relationship was ignited the Kampala-based global conference entitled ‘Reproductive Health in Emergencies’ from June 18-20th. This initial meeting was then followed with mobile ambulance operations and mechanics training sessions for CPAR drivers, Henry Odeke and Anthony Lou. Henry and Anthony will later lead training for other CPAR drivers and clinic staff in order to ensure that the eRanger can be best used to facilitate live-saving transport to health centres for new mothers and infants.

The ambulance will primarily service Purongo Health Centre (a site of basic EmOC service provision in the project) within Amuru District, where it will serve a significant number of recently resettled and resettling Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). It will also serve to connect referral cases to Anaka Hospital, greatly adding to the strength of the referral network within the Amuru District health system.

To date, emergency maternal referrals (and the lack thereof) has been a critical factor in high maternal death rates in the District. CPAR will also work to put together information, education and communication materials to promote the new ambulance and the need for clinic deliveries and positive-health seeking behaviour within the District for the benefit of mothers and infants.

CPAR’s National Medical Coordinator, Dr. Keith Mugarura exclaims that the generous donation by eRanger avails “an innovative and appropriate technology for a resource limited setting that will go a long way to boost maternal and newborn health in rural health units” in the war-affected North of the country, where CPAR has worked for 17 years.

The partnership with Marie Stopes Uganda will ensure the sustainable operation of the eRanger Ambulance for four years – although life-saving results for mothers and families will likely transpire within 3-5 months, given the high gaps in transportation to ensure that mothers give birth safely at health clinics, wherever feasible. Through this partnership, it is anticipated that additional eRanger ambulances will be introduced to other high-need clinic sites in Northern Uganda in the coming years.