Release date: 23 August 2006
KENYAN HEALTH SERVICE WORKERS GET A LIFT FROM BIBBY DISTRIBUTION
Bibby Distribution’s Driver Development Manager, Brian Riddle and Regional Driver Trainer, Dave Smith have spent two weeks in Kenya training health service drivers in Coast and North East provinces to become driver trainers and assessors.
Their input is part of a major project to put in place a Transport Management System for the Ministry of Health. With its established track record in implementing such systems, Transaid is undertaking the assignment to help make healthcare more effective, accessible and affordable, especially for those who live in remote areas.
Brian and Dave were enlisted to conduct the driver training element and the pair spent three days training and one day assessing ambulance drivers in both provinces. By the end of the two weeks, they had taught 23 drivers how to teach a lesson and assess other drivers.
The pair conducted some classroom training, but focused on practical driver trainer instruction, with sample lessons and assessments. The conditions they witnessed emphasised the need for health drivers to be professionally skilled, particularly when transporting sick patients.
“Our assessing route took us through the town centre and I witnessed five accidents in two hours. Camels in the road and potholes big enough to swallow the front of a car are just a couple of the hazards that we had to deal with,” explains Dave Smith.
Chris Saunders, Transaid CEO, adds: “Transaid’s contribution is vital to the delivery of the country’s national health strategy as, although the Danish Government has committed to funding new vehicles to deliver essential medical services, it has insisted that appropriate management systems and operating standards are put in place before they are supplied.”
Bibby Distribution is a strong supporter of Transaid and this is Brian’s third Transaid overseas placement. He has previously conducted training of trainers in Uganda and Malawi.
“We were delighted to be asked to contribute to this important project as the placement of Bibby people enables the company to make a very practical difference, using its core competencies,” says Steve Potter, Bibby Distribution’s Operations Director.
To experience some of the driving conditions that health workers face in Africa every day, play The Transaid Challenge at www.transaid.org
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Note to Editor: Transaid (www.transaid.org) is an international development agency that aims to improve people’s quality of life in the developing world by making transport more available and affordable. It was founded by Save The Children and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) and works by sharing skills and knowledge with local people to enable them to put in place and manage efficient transport systems.
Transaid’s core work includes creating transport management systems for the public sector and assisting with the provision of professional driving qualification development and the training of driver trainers. It also assists with teaching preventive vehicle maintenance management and introducing local, low cost transport solutions including its innovative bicycle ambulance. Transaid also helps promote HIV, AIDS and road safety awareness and shares its specialist knowledge with the humanitarian aid sector.
Transaid enjoys strong backing from the transport and logistics industry and the active involvement of its patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
For further press information:
Caroline Beaumont at Transaid on +44 (0)20 7387 8136
James Keeler at Garnett Keeler on +44 (0)20 8399 1184
