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Request for Advice - Transport for Women in Labour in Afghanistan

Donkeys are the current form of transportation
Request for Advice: Transport for Women in Labour in Afghanistan
Health Prom, an NGO working to improve health and social care for vulnerable women and children in Europe and Central Asia, are seeking your advice for a small partnership project they are supporting in Northern Afghanistan to reduce newborn and maternal mortality.

Some Background:
A major obstacle here is the lack of transport from remote villages in the foothills of the Hindu Kush to the health centre. The project’s 4 wheel drive cannot reach all villages during winter and was never a sustainable solution for the whole district. Most of the tracks are too rough for carts.

Women in the project villages are already requesting assistance with their transport options and the project is soon to run a similar consultation with the men.  The project is due to extend to cover 10,000 total population. 

The Request:
Health Prom is seeking advice on solutions for viable transportation in this area. Currently the sick or women in labour are transported by donkey or horse using straw bags on either side which they find to be heavy and uncomfortable.   Suggestions so far include:

1) Local women have requested Health Prom to design an airbag. Health Prom think this suggestion would be costly and take time to pump up. They also doubt the local availability of materials and skills to produce.
2) Old style tubes from lorries on a wooden saddle. The woman would sit or lie in it. Health Prom doubt such tubes still in use and think this would be frightening for the women.
3) A stretcher carried by 4 men, possibly with a single wheel to use in smoother places. Health Prom think this would be less frightening for the women.
4) Sledges. Not used in Afghanistan so Health Prom unsure if they would be accepted, need to develop a good reputation locally.
Any ideas or advice that you can share with Health Prom on this issue would be very welcome.  In particular they seek tried and tested practical solutions that they may be able to replicate. You can contact Stewart Britten, UK Project Manager for Health Prom by email:  stewart.britten@zen.co.uk 
A more detailed report from the project can be accessed here:
www.ifrtd.org/files/uploads/HealthProm_afghanistan_2009.doc

Health Prom


www.healthprom.org/
HealthProm is an international development non-profit organisation working with local communities to improve health and social care for vulnerable women and children in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.Health Prom gives priority to prevention and early intervention in the life of mother and child by working through partnership projects with local community groups and non-profit organisations, healthcare administrations and training institutes.