At the JOICFP project site in Fiwale, Copperbelt Region, Zambia, traditional birth attendants (TBAs), community-based distributors (CBDs), and peer educators gather at the Kandale Club House.

"Some of us are from 50 kilometers away. The nearest one lives 17 kilometers away." This is usual in rural Africa, and walking such distances is commonplace.

While normal in daily life there, such distances present problems in delivering health services, especially for TBAs. The use of reconditioned bicycles from Japan is literally a lifesaver.

If pregnant women face complications they can be carried to the nearest hospital, which is 35 kilometers away, by bicycle, and TBAs can monitor at-risk clients more easily.

CBD and TBA demonstrate how a pregnant woman can be carried on the back of a bicycle to receive health care

CBDs gather outside a clubhouse

CBDs also find the bicycles indispensable as they deliver supplies of condoms and oral contraceptives, as well as information and education materials.

CBD with his kit supplied by PPAZ...

and the contents of the bag.
When supplies are used up, replacements
are provided free of charge at the district hospital

In order to qualify as a TBA, CBD, or peer educator, volunteers must undergo comprehensive training. On successful completion, they are given a bicycle. This acts as great motivation for them to complete the training and remain volunteers.

JOICFP also makes sure that spare parts are delivered, and many TBAs and CBDs asked for spares to be sent. “There are more volunteers being trained, so we need more bicycles and spare parts. Often, we have to go out at night, so bicycles with lights are really appreciated!”

TBA receives new spare tires

'Roads' like this soon damage bicycle tires
and are difficult to ride in the dark

TBAs go out to deliver health care

Along with the bicycles, supplies of notebooks are donated as well. These are used by health post volunteers, by TBAs to record their activities, and for children at the nursery school in the club house.

A notebook used by a TBA to record the health condition
of her clients

For those who cannot read and write,
pictorial data gathering is used

In cooperation with the Japan Relief Clothing Center, JOICFP sends second-hand clothes to Zambia. PPAZ takes white T-shirts and prints them to be used as uniforms by volunteers. Volunteers suggested that they buy the shirts from PPAZ as a way of cost sharing to help with the expense for PPAZ of bringing bicycle spares and contraceptive supplies from the regional capital of Ndola.

A donated shirt has been printed by
PPAZ and turned into a uniform