In the rural area of Lira, Uganda, Lucy Abalo’s bicycle sits ready for anyone in her village who needs it. It’s a community asset, readily available for urgent needs, such as getting a pregnant woman to a checkup, someone to collect their HIV medication, or rushing an injured child to the hospital. “The beauty of this bike,” Abalo notes, “is that it is here for anyone who needs it.”
Abalo, like many other “village doctors” in Uganda, has recently been equipped with a Buffalo Bicycle. These bicycles are specially designed with robust steel parts to withstand the challenging road conditions prevalent in the area. World Bicycle Relief, a nonprofit based in Chicago, is behind this initiative, working to enhance health service accessibility in remote African areas. Their collaboration extends to various governments and NGOs to facilitate the usage of these durable bikes.
In Uganda, a nation boasting a population of 45 million, promoting these bicycles focuses on aiding health workers, such as Abalo, who personally visits locals, reporting health issues back to authorities. Trusted by her community, Abalo serves around 8,000 villagers who rely on her during emergencies. Twice weekly, she must attend a government health center located about 5 kilometers (3 miles) away to help with patient management.
Transport is a significant challenge for Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) like Abalo, compounded by the broader issue of poverty that leaves many health facilities short on essential resources such as ambulances or fuel. World Bicycle Relief, through its local arm in Uganda, Buffalo Bicycles Uganda, has provided bicycles to 331 CHEWs in select districts since 2023, one of which is Lira, a significant distance from Kampala, the capital.
Bicycles are common in Uganda, particularly in households, and cultural norms in regions like northern Uganda do not discourage women’s use of them. However, the Buffalo Bicycle is relatively new and less known in these areas, largely due to its higher cost of around $200 — considerably pricier than the cheapest alternatives, making it inaccessible for many CHEWs who are not yet salaried.
Promoters highlight the bike’s sturdiness, ideal for rugged terrains and a reduced need for repair trips, which helps save money. It includes a heavy-duty steel frame with a five-year warranty, explained Amuza Ali, a monitoring official in Lira for Buffalo Bicycles Uganda.
Abalo admits that adjusting to the Buffalo Bicycle took time due to its unconventional braking system requiring the absence of traditional backpedaling. “At first, it was a challenge,” she confessed. “It felt like learning to ride all over again.”
However, the investment has paid off. According to research by World Bicycle Relief, CHEWs utilizing these bikes have achieved a 108% increase in the number of homes they visit weekly, and their travel time to health centers decreased by nearly half. This data underscores the notion that “mobility is not a luxury in healthcare, but a critical lifeline,” according to World Bicycle Relief’s CEO, Dave Neiswander.
Diana Atwine, Uganda’s Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, has advocated for more bicycles to be distributed among CHEWs throughout the country, recognizing their essential role in life-saving healthcare delivery.
Abalo received her Buffalo Bicycle from the health minister the previous year. Her neighbor, Babra Akello, has already benefited from using the bike multiple times, primarily for prenatal checkups. She appreciates Abalo’s open-handed support.
The bicycle has rescued lives in emergencies as well. Earlier this year, when a nearby child, aged four, sustained a severe cut while unsupervised, Abalo swiftly transported him for urgent care. The child briefly lost consciousness but was successfully revived at the hospital. “That bike, not me, saved that child’s life,” Abalo reflected. “Without it, who knows what might have happened.”