USAID offers mobility for healthcare providers

Busia,

Friday September 8, 2023

KNA by Salome Alwanda

The USAID 4THE CHILD in collaboration with World Bicycle Relief has donated 45 bicycles to community healthcare promoters and caregivers to orphans in Busia with a view to improve healthcare service provision in the County.

Speaking during the official handing over of the bicycles in Busia town on Thursday, the Organization’s Deputy Director Kenneth Otieno said that healthcare promoters have been facing transport challenges especially when there is a need to serve patients from far-flung areas.

A healthcare promoter can be called upon to serve even 30 patients some of whom live a distance between five to 10 kilometers away,” he said.

Otieno added that caregivers who engage in small-scale businesses can also use the bicycles to carry their wares around.

‘Even school-going children, especially day scholars need these mobility aids so that they can concentrate on their studies,” he said, adding that the organization aims to support 200 more households with such devices.

He disclosed that the organization is currently providing support to 14,859 OVCs and 2,470 children and adolescents living with HIV across the County.

Busia County CEC Member for Education and Vocational Training, Beatrice Nakholi lauded the partners for their support and called upon them to impart skills and knowledge to the students at VTC. 

Joel Imwatok, a healthcare promoter from Amukura ward in Teso South Sub County thanked the organization for the support adding that transport has been a challenge to his service delivery.

" I am mandated to serve three wards and I have been trekking or forced to borrow bicycles from neighbors so that I can offer services to the clients," he said.

Courtesy; KNA