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on August 22, 2015 at 12:30 PM
Two retired ambulances from Southeast Michigan have made their way to Kenya.
Through a partnership with Relief for Africa (RFA), the two ambulances will live out the second half of their lives providing medical transportation in Nandi County, 250 miles southwest of Nairobi, Kenya.
Huron Valley Ambulance donated one ambulance donated and its sister company, Monroe Community Ambulance, donated the other.
Three portable ventilators, backboards, cervical collars, stretchers and other medical supplies were also donated.
In June, the two newly repainted ambulances were launched into serviced. One will be stationed at Nandi Hills County Hospital and the other at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital.
The ambulances will be used to transport sick patients and also as mobile clinics in the area.
“We are pleased to support RFA,” said Roger Simpson, HVA vice president, in a statement. “They are committed to building an emergency medical system in this area. They have hospitals but they need transportation. The two ambulances will go far in helping people receive lifesaving treatment.”
Nandi County lies in an area measuring about 2,500 square miles. The area is home to 3 million people and six hospitals, each with 200 beds.
Founded in 2009, RFA is based in Ann Arbor. They have an established regional presence in Nairobi, Kenya that focuses on aid to the Horn of Africa, including Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti. Some of RFA’s partners include World Medical Relief and the University of Michigan Health System.
According to their website, the nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving access to healthcare and education through recovery and redistribution of used or surplus medical supplies, equipment, books and training of healthcare personnel for undeserved and vulnerable communities in Africa.
RFA’s goal is start an emergency medical system in the area to link the people, ambulances and hospitals.
Jack Walsworth is an intern reporter for The Ann Arbor News.
Contact him via email at jwalswor@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.
Source: mlive.com