Rural Liberia’s poor roads once cost pregnant women and their babies their lives. Now, MAF-delivered motorcycle ambulances are bringing new levels of access to medical care and better outcomes.
In the remote corners of Liberia, reaching a clinic or health centre has often been a matter of life and death. Pregnant women from the hard-to-reach places of Foya, Lofa County, faced dangerous journeys over rough roads.
Francis Forndia, Executive Director of Foya-Borma Hospital, highlighted the risks for expectant mothers using everyday motorcycle transport to get to medical care.
“Before they could get to the clinic, the pregnant woman would have lost her foetus. The pregnant mother sitting on the bike would press the foetus to its early grave,” he said.
The only large referral hospital from Foya is a one-day drive and it causes lots of pregnant women or patients to lose their lives.
But the arrival of the first two motorcycle ambulances in the region is changing this reality.
“The motorcycle ambulance has been a real blessing,” said Francis. “Unlike ordinary motorbikes, these ambulances are equipped with a two-wheeled trailer, allowing patients to lie down safely during transport.”
MAF flew two motorcycle ambulances from the capital, Monrovia, to Foya. The motorcycle ambulances were donated by the Eezer Association, a Swedish nonprofit organisation founded by Lars Klingsbo and supported by the Pentecostal Church in Sweden.
“The motorcycle ambulances could not travel by road because if they did, they would have spoiled on the difficult rough roads from Gbarnga to Foya – but the MAF flight saved us from damage,” Francis said.
“By flying the motorcycle ambulances to help pregnant women access better treatment, MAF has made life change with a deep smile.
“We had serious challenges with pregnant women moving from one village to their nearby clinics on commercial motorcycles. Thus, we were losing a lot of babies due to bad roads. These motorcycle ambulances are going to help a lot of pregnant women,” Francis added.
“Mothers and children are our future leaders. So, when you save them, you are helping Liberia’s future.
Francis also spoke positively about the availability of MAF flights to airlift critically ill patients from rural areas to Monrovia for more advanced treatment, and to deliver medical supplies.
“We look forward to doing patient transfers using MAF flights to enable patients access quick health care in the capital,” he said.
The Foya-Borma Hospital is a faith-based, nonprofit health facility subsidised by the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health. The 120-bed hospital serves a population over 100,000 inhabitants of Foya District, including the neighbouring communities of Guinea and Sierra Leone, and works with 11 clinics including a health centre.
“To the Eezer Association, the Foya-Borma hospital is deeply grateful for such a wonderful blessing,” said Francis. “Thank you so much for supporting the hospital to meet the health needs in Liberia.
“May MAF Liberia continue to serve the underserved communities of Liberia in line with their vision and mission.”
STORY & PHOTOS / RACHEL GWOLE GEORGE