Ambulances for Remote African Communities

In rural Sub-Saharan Africa, many communities are located far from healthcare facilities, with poor road infrastructure making access even more challenging. When medical emergencies occur, patients often have to be transported in private vehicles, on the back of motorcycles, or even carried on foot for many miles. This delay in reaching care results in preventable deaths and complications.

Amara, a mother of four from Sierra Leone, recounts her harrowing experience: "When my son broke his leg in a farming accident, we had to carry him on a makeshift stretcher for 17 miles. It took us nearly two days to reach the hospital. By then, infection had set in, and the doctors had to amputate. With an ambulance, he would still have both his legs today."

One Warm Wish is working to provide 3 off-road ambulances to serve these remote communities. Each ambulance costs approximately $28,333 and comes equipped with:

• Rugged 4x4 vehicle capable of navigating difficult terrain ($20,000 each)
• Basic life support equipment including oxygen, suction, and monitoring devices ($3,500 each)
• Stretcher and patient transport system ($1,500 each)
• Communication equipment ($800 each)
• Essential emergency medical supplies ($1,500 each)
• Solar-powered refrigeration for medications ($1,033 each)

These ambulances will be operated by trained local emergency medical teams who are already working in the region but lack proper vehicles and equipment. Each ambulance can serve multiple communities with a combined population of approximately 30,000 people.

"An ambulance would be a lifeline for our entire region," says Joseph, a community leader. "Right now, when someone is seriously ill or injured, families face an impossible choice: risk the dangerous journey to the hospital or watch their loved one suffer at home. No one should have to make that choice."

Your donation will help purchase, equip, and deliver these life-saving vehicles to communities where they're desperately needed. Every contribution brings us closer to our goal of $85,000 to fund all three ambulances.