Zambulance Especial Ambulance. Zambia

Zambulance

What is a Zambulance?

The Zambulance is an affordable transport option for remote areas in developing countries.

In several developing countries, people die from treatable diseases simply because they cannot reach health centers when they need it most.  Bicycle ambulances are a proven solution to this transport barrier in remote areas where current methods of transport are insufficient in speed, safety, cost, or availability. Since July 2005, Jessica Vechakul has been collaborating with Disacare Wheelchair Center in Lusaka to develop the Zambulance,  a bicycle ambulance that can be locally produced from common steel and bicycle components.

The Zambian Ministry of Health and the WHO have ordered over 50 Zambulances for health centers all over Zambia.  Independent home-based care and hospice programs have also orderedZambulances.  Within one month, over 50 patients were transport between home and health centers by a single Zambulance. Given the versatility of the Zambulances for people of all ages and health conditions, it has the potential to be a live-saving technology worldwide. 

The Stretcher: To facillitate transport of the patient through narrow passages, the stretcher is removable from the trailer.  The body of the stretcher is made from sheet metal because it is more durable and easier to clean than high-quality fabrics. The sheet metal’s inherent flexibility also provides suspension.  A larger chain secures the angle of recline of the backrest in place once the angle of recline is adjusted. A canopy  frame made out of rebar is welded to the stretcher’s backrest to provide a frame for a waterproof canvas to be strapped on as rain and sun protection for the patient. The Trailer: A hand tow bar, made out of rebar, allows for easy steering when the bicycle is not attached.  Sheet metal mudguards and fenders protect the patient from debris and the trailer wheels.  The low center of gravity makes this trailer more stable and safer.  The trailer can also be sold separately with a cargo box to transport goods. The Bicycle Clamp and Hitch: The hitch attaches the trailer near the bicycle’s rear axle by clamping onto the seat stay and chain stay.  The bicycle clamp is made only using welded angle iron, flat bar, nuts and bolts.  This simple bicycle hitch can accommodate for slightly different angles between the chain stay and seat stay of common bicycles. The nut and bolt hitch is a univeral joint, allowing for three axes of rotation: pitch, roll, and yaw.  Thus, the ambulance can travel on highly uneven terrain without off-balancing the rider or tipping the trailer.  If you download any of the materials on this site, please e-mail your name, mailing address, phone number, and information about your group to the e-mail address shown above. Any feedback or information about modifications or specific needs are encouraged. We would greatly appreciate it if you could fill in the Community Surveys and Record Book and send it back to us so we can keep track of how the Zambulance is used. Production Manual: detailed engineering drawings and instructions on how to make a Zambulance New Chain Hook Design: this feature was updated since the creation of the production manual New Hitch Design: this feature was updated since the creation of the production manual Record Book: charts for keeping track of the Zambulance's use and maintainence needs User Manual: pictures and instructions about how to use and maintain the Zambulance Community Surveys: questions for the health center, patient, and care takers to obtain feedback Management Committee: recommended organization structure for managing the Zambulance use Design of Bicycle Ambulances for Zambia: Jessica Vechakul's MIT masters thesis describes reasons for design decisions. ARCHIVES OLD Record Book: charts for keeping track of the Zambulance's use and maintainence needs OLD User Manual: pictures and instructions about how to use and maintain the Zambulance  Jessica Vechakul is currently a Mechanical Engineering graduate student at MIT. She has worked on several appropriate technology projects. Please see her resume for details. The following programs and classes at MIT have helped to shape Jessica's path in Develepment: D-lab is a series of undergraduate courses offered at MIT to teach students about development. University to University (U2U) is a partnership that allows students from MIT, Harvard, and the University of Zambia to work together on development projects. IDEAS is a design competition that encourages innovative projects that make a positive impact on the world. Jessica's team won an IDEAS prize in 2005 with the bicilavadora, or pedal-powered washing machine. MIT's Public Service Center (PSC) provides support and opportunities for MIT students to do community service.