The Bambulance, is a finalist for the Index:Awards Design To Improve Life.
Design For Development Society is extremely excited to be pioneering research into the use of sustainable local materials in the design and manufacture of emergency medical transportation devices (EMTD). They are currently developing plans for a project in which they will design and pilot a bamboo EMTD for western Kenya.
Primarily, the Design For Development Society seeks to improve the referral of debilitated patients to health clinics or hospitals from local communities and homesteads in situations where motorized transport is unavailable or inappropriate. They hope to promote the bamboo ambulance as a viable means of emergency transport, offering faster transit times and being a realistic, affordable and sustainable solution to the issue of patient transport.
Second, the project seeks to utilize locally available and sustainable materials in the manufacture of the medical transport device. Bamboo has been identified as an appropriate and affordable structural material that is available in this region.
Third, the project seeks to provide skills training and sustainable employment opportunities for HIV+ women.
Fourth, the project seeks to facilitate community health workers in transporting their clients as per their healthcare objectives, and to provide a source of local, affordable medical transport for HIV/AIDS health organizations, aid agencies, communities, NGOs and government in Kenya.
Bambulance is a low-cost, practical and sustainable solution to this medical transportation crisis.
It was designed by Philippa Mennell (Canada), Chris Ryan (Canada), Niki Dun (Canada) and Philippe Schlesser (Luxembourg), a collaboration between DFD and Emily Carr University interns.
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