Page 21 - EMBRACE Book

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Boniface, Rwanda Photo: © 2017 ADRA | Frank Spangler Mary Ann, Philippines Photo: © 2019 ADRA | Frank Spangler

“Before I became an ambulance driver I used to drive trucks. people to the hospital with different emergencies. Many of “We live in a very remote village. The closest village with a I was shy to stay there because there are other pregnant
But now, after going through a training program, I am them have been women in labour who were having market takes one and a half hours to walk to. When we run women there. But I was very happy, too. It’s very cozy, and I
working for the district driving the ambulance. complications. One of them gave birth in the ambulance on out of rice or other supplies, we have to walk there. So for was very comfortable. My husband and mom stayed with
the way to the hospital. The nurse that was going with us had pregnant women, it was really, really hard to get to a health me. There was even a supply of food for the pregnant
Before ADRA donated the ambulance for this district, people me stop and she delivered the baby right there in the back of facility when they were in labour. Women just gave birth at women. Even though there was a kitchen, we didn’t have to
had to rely on old, traditional methods of carrying people the truck. She did it herself. As a driver, I don’t get involved home. cook anything because there was enough food.
down the mountainside on a stretcher. It was either that way in that kind of thing!
or they had to wait for a very long time for an ambulance to Now ADRA has built a ‘halfway house,’ a place where I’m very thankful for the ‘halfway house’ and I know that
come from another district, if one was available. So now, This ambulance has been such a wonderful gift to our pregnant women can stay close to their due date. It’s close to others are thankful, too. There are no longer any worries.”
with the new ambulance right here, people are very happy community. This is something that we have needed for a very the health facility and that way they can deliver in better
knowing that if there is any kind of health emergency, we long time. This really brings up our life here. This ambulance conditions than at home. It’s really good to have this ‘halfway
will be able to take them very quickly to the nearest hospital. is for the whole community. No one is going to have a house.’
problem while this is parked here. Everyone here is so
The way we have this set up is I share the driving with one thankful to the people of Canada who have shaken hands
other driver. I am on duty for a full week and then the other with the government of Rwanda and given us this
driver is on for one week. The ambulance was delivered less ambulance. You have really met a great need here.”
than two months ago now. Since then, I have driven 23