Bicycle Ambulance

Sexual and Reproductive Health 

Menstrual Hygiene

Mposa Clinic is the nearest clinic for residents of Mbando village. It is 3km away on a rural mud road. Many villagers complained that they have to hire bicycles to get to the clinic and a ride each way cost them over Mk700. Pregnant women and elderly found it difficult to reach the clinic on the back of a bicycle. They wanted a Bicycle ambulance which has a stretcher attached to the bicycle. This way as someone pedals them to the clinic, the patient can lie down comfortably on the stretcher attached to the clinic. Abundance provided a bicycle ambulance (with stretcher) and a bicycle with gears to the village in 2016. Within three months the village reported that over 45 children were transported on the bicycle when they contracted malaria and were safely taken to Mposa Clinic. 

There are many myths that prevail amongst youth in Malawi with regards to Sexual and Reproductive Health. Including that contraceptives lead to sterility and/or infertility. In July 2017, a discussion on Sexual and Reproductive Health with the aim of dispelling some of these myths were held at Mbando.  The youth face many challenges including poor access to contraceptives. Youth could not access any “counselling” or knowledge on sexual and reproductive health. Often girls were uncomfortable approaching older women to request for contraceptives at the clinic because they feared being judged immoral. The need for family planning and importance of taking care of the reproductive system to avoid injuries and infection was included in the training.

At a routine community visit, girls told us that they routinely miss school when theu menstruate. This is because they do not have access to sanitary pads nor have the means to buy them. Many use newspapers and old cloths as pads and were terrified it would fall and cause shame and embarrassment. They preferred missing school and staying home, than take the risk. Abundance decided to hold a training session on reusable sanitary pads making at the village. This was attended by over 80 girls and women, who were provided with a sewing kit and cloth to continue making pads after the training. The training was held in July 2017.