UNICEF launches Motorbike ambulances in Yambio, Western Equatoria

November 29, 2010 (YAMBIO) — On Monday, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Yambio County, Western Equatoria, launched the use of motor bike ambulances to serve and safe pregnant women in labor times.

Grace Keyune UNICEF Chief of Field Offices in Greater Equatoria (CES, WES and EES) explained that “it is a joint effort by UNICEF and the Government to reduce high mortality rate in southern Sudan especially Western Equatoria State, she said. We “are trying ways of decreasing the high rate so that women can get access to safe delivery in the nearby clinics or Primary Health care centers,” stressed the international official.

She added that “the only way to reduce high mortality rate is to offer access to easy transport so that in the absence of vehicle motorbike ambulance can quickly rush women to the clinics.”

Mortality motorbike ambulances complete with sidecar and padded bed. They might look a little unusual, but in remote parts of a state where – according to the United Nations – a 15-year old girl has a greater chance of dying in childbirth than finishing school, they have brought new hope of a reduction in avoidable deaths.

“The use of motorcycle ambulances to improve maternal and newborn care is a new initiative for Sudan, but has proven its effectiveness in countries such as Malawi and Uganda,” Grace underlined.

In Malawi, the bikes nearly doubled the number of women giving birth in health facilities, and cut the number needing emergency caesarean operations by half, according to UNICEF statistics.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THE INITIATIVE.

Speaking at the launch WES governor Col. Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro said that “In recent research conducted in Western Equatoria it was found the state has the highest number of mortality rate in southern Sudan.”

Bakosoro pointed out that “now no women will die due to pregnancy related suffering as donated motorbikes will help easy transport for pregnant women in Yambio.”

Bakosoro appealed for more of the motorbikes to be provided to increase the efficiency of the work.

Norah Jacob a midwife who serves in Yambio appreciated the collaborative effort by UNICEF and the state Ministry of Health for the provision of the motorbikes to help the “poor women who always suffer delivery incidents,” adding that “all women must deliver in the hospital for the safety of their babies.”

Josephine Joto a fertile woman mentioned out that “the provision of motorbikes shows development and improvement on health issues since the government is exerting effort on decreasing mortality rate in the state. Joto added that “it is a brilliant idea embraced in Yambio,” urging for the same initiative to be replicated in other counties.

At glance Motorbike ambulances will offer lifeline for pregnant women in Western Equatoria.

Health experts in the region say: South Sudan has a new tool in the fight against maternal.

In Southern Sudan, Western Equatoria is the latest state to receive motorbike ambulance; previously the project has been launched in Central and Eastern Equatoria states where a first batch of five bikes has been deployed.

The region was one of the hardest hit during Sudan’s bloody 22-year north-south civil war. For five years, rebel Lord’s Resistance Army fighters from neighboring Uganda also used the thick bush as bases to raid surrounding villages.

(ST)