The Cause
Riders for Health
Every year, millions of people in Africa die from easily-preventable diseases because health workers do not have the reliable transport to reach them.
Our chosen cause, Riders for Health, is a charitable organisation with a simple aim: to mobilise health workers in Africa with vehicles that never break down.
By doing this, they can ensure that millions of people across Africa receive regular, reliable health care – many for the first time in their lives.
Currently working in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, the Gambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Lesotho and Zambia, Riders’ work includes:
- Rider and driver training, to ensure safe, considerate use of all vehicles
- Daily maintenance checks by riders / drivers
- Outreach maintenance
- Ensuring a consistent parts supply chain
- Attaining high standards amongst all technicians
- Maintaining accurate costings
Each programme is run by nationals of the country concerned, which builds local capacity, creates skilled employment and embeds a culture of preventive maintenance into the communities. Without this, the systems would have a finite life, constantly disrupted by the comings and goings of expatriate staff.
Across Africa, Riders now employs 230 people, running more than 1,274 vehicles and keeping health and community workers from a variety of organisations ‘on the road’ – from ministries of health to small community groups. To sustain the TRM system, and build local capacity and a strong maintenance culture, Riders also established the International Academy of Vehicle Management in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Each programme is run by nationals of the country concerned, which builds local capacity, creates skilled employment and embeds a culture of preventive maintenance into the communities. Without this, the systems would have a finite life, constantly disrupted by the comings and goings of expatriate staff.
