Going The Distance In Uganda

One of our biggest grants goes to fund the Boda For Mothers program in Uganda in partnership with Baylor Children’s Foundation — Uganda.
We’re supporting vouchers for 18,000–20,000 pregnant and laboring women redeemable for a ride from their villages to a healthcare facility, on the back of a motorcycle taxi (boda-boda). The Boda For Mothers motorcycle taxi riders are dedicated to getting mothers to the care they need as safely and quickly as possible. Check out the story below from Joseph — a boda rider. Also check out our latest film from Uganda,”Boda for Mothers.”

The Bodas for Mothers initiative helps expectant mothers buy a transportation voucher for 1000UGX (0.40USD) valid for six visits to a health centre. The voucher covers the recommended four ante natal care visits, delivery and at least one post natal care visit.

Joseph describes his journey with few words quieltly responding to questions. “Most mothers I take come from low income families and I often carry the mother and the birth attendant.The majority come with their spouses or a female neighbour. They do not say much when I take them for delivery but they squeeze and hold on so tightly that it can be painful at times.”

“They tend to have their vouchers by the time they call me; many of them get my telephone number from their Village Health Worker,” he says.

Joseph like the other 160 Bodas for Mothers’ riders in Kabarole, Kamwenge and Kyenjojo has been trained by Baylor-Uganda to deal with emergency response to deliver mothers to health facilities. They know about danger signs and can quickly observe the mother and can raise an alert so that they receive back-up from the health facility by either a midwife and ambulance joining them along the way or receiving instructions on helping the mother to the health facility.

“I once took a woman from Njara to Buhinga referral hospital. It was at about 10pm as we rode. Suddenly she asked me to stop and the next thing I knew she was pushing. Njara being quite close to the Baylor-Uganda offices I rushed there and called for an ambulance. She was bleeding too much but luckily we had one of the staff at Baylor-Uganda, a medical doctor attend to her. In the end, both mother and child were fine but had I not been there she probably would have bled to death. I enjoy what I do, I don’t just transport people. I am saving lives. We received training from Baylor-Uganda, on what to do should a lady go into labour enroute, and what to do with the child’s umbilical cord.”

Joseph demonstrated with his fingers how much (about an inch) space is needed at both ends before cutting the umbilical cord.

“They also taught us how to cover the child properly. You must be careful with mothers and you must be serious because an expectant mother is a special passenger with special needs and requiring special care.”