Meet André, who is building Eezer's motorcycle ambulances on site in Burundi!

About how locals in Burundi came in contact with Eezer and began building motorcycle ambulances to reduce maternal mortality. André Misago tells how it all started.

Andre Misago is 36 years old and lives in Bujumbura with wife and two children. He works as an accountant for CEPBU (Community of Pentecostal Churches in Burundi) which works with development in health, agriculture and education. He came in contact with Eezer's zealous Lars Klingsbo when Lars was in Burundi as an aid worker at PMU (Pentecostal Mission's Development Cooperation). André says that Lars taught him how to speak for the poor. During the visit, Lars told about the motorcycle ambulances and an interest was aroused in André. He saw a great need for the motorcycle ambulances!

In October last year, Lars Klingsbo went with Elvis Osaretin Idoni and Richard Lundgren from Lundgren Smide to Burundi. The assignment for the week was to assemble carriages on site and to train local people in doing so. The trolleys would then be delivered to two clinics. The parts for the wagons had been manufactured in Lundgren's forging workshop, which the gang took with them in flat packages on the plane down. They had a welder and various tools with them. On the spot, they met André who tells about their meeting:

Wagon parts on the way to Burundi

“My first thought about MC-ambulance cars was just to build it. Lars has encouraged me to try to build an Eezer ambulance wagon in giving me some of the needed tools for beginning. My first meeting with Elvis and Richard was benefit for me because their work has created something important in my life. They have shown me in summarize how to weld, to drill and grinding. When Elvis and Richard taught me how to build an ambulance wagon it worked very well. It was easy because everything which is done in love must be easy and possible ”.

André continues: “Now I am building one for test. I am trying to build an ambulance wagon as shown on the picture above. Now it stays the suspensions, roofing an other parts. Our driver Abel help me in assembling the materials and in welding it. We do not have a workshop ”.

André now builds carriages in his spare time and buys the material he needs. The idea is that the wagons will be able to be manufactured locally. The trolley itself is a simple construction that consists of spare parts that are easy to get in place. The material comes mostly from the domestic market. Wheels and suspension come from a TVS motorcycle which is one of the most common motorcycles in Africa. The steel is bought on site and the seat is sewn on site. Towbars and towbars are currently imported from Sweden.

André about the sequel:  “For making Eezer to grow, I need to be trained proffesionally in welding and having the sufficient tools. I also need the shock absorbers, wheels, tires in order to build and get out the ambulances. ”

Lars, Elvis and Richard are hopeful of being able to manufacture motorcycle ambulances on site in Burundi. The plan is to go to Burundi again in 2019 to continue educating André and others. The need for the carriages is extremely great. The goal is to be able to build 100 crews on site.

To be continued….

Facts

Maternal mortality is high in many parts of the world. In Kenya, 400 out of 100,000 mothers die in connection with pregnancy, the same figure in Sweden is 4. The UN's goal is to reduce maternal mortality in the world to 70 deaths per 100,000 births by 2030.

The Eezer Initiative is a Swedish network of individuals, organizations and companies that actively cooperate to reduce maternal mortality in the African countryside. There is often a lack of means of transport to healthcare and Eezer is trying to solve this with the help of motorcycle-based ambulances. These motorcycle ambulances must cope with the difficult terrain in the African countryside. The motorcycle trailers have been developed in collaboration with the companies Industriverktyg, Lundgren Smide and Devex Mekatronik. The goal is for the construction to be easy to manufacture locally.

Today, several motorcycle ambulances in Kenya and Tanzania, among others, are rolling ready to quickly transport pregnant women to the nearest clinic when it is time to give birth. The goal in the pilot phase 2017-2018 is to deliver 30 crews in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Congo. Based on those experiences, the goal in phase two is to manufacture another 300 crews. In addition to saving lives, the goal is to create jobs.

The financing of the project takes place partly through voluntary contributions from both individuals and companies, and partly through gifts, monthly donors and corporate sponsorship. For those who want to get involved in Eezer's work, trips are arranged where you can see and experience the business on site. You can choose to ride a motorcycle or car.

For more information about Eezer, enter into www.eezer.org

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