Agriculture
June 3, 2021
Updated on September 28, 2019
·Created on August 5, 2019
The Okoa Ambulance is a motorcycle trailer designed to transport patients in rural areas of Tanzania.
Okoa Ambulance is a trailer that can be attached to any motorcycle transforming it into an ambulance. The system can be used to transport patients in rural areas of Tanzania to a healthcare facility. This ambulance contains 3 kits: a first aid kit, a birthing kit, and a spare contingency kit. It includes a removable stretcher so that patients can be loaded into the ambulance and an extra seat for a passenger to support the patient. By summer of 2019, the Okoa Project aims to to expand to 15 communities with 100 ambulances to serve over 2000 people.
Distributors / Implementing Organizations
It is available for purchase after July 2019. It can be ordered through The Okoa Project website.
Manufacturing/Building Method
Make to order, it has a welded steel frame, wooden panels are attached for seating and a plastic covering is added on the outside.
Intellectural Property Type
Open Source
User Provision Model
Users can order an Okoa ambulance through the manufacturer's website.
Distributions to Date Status
Design Specifications
The designers identified that the crucial design criteria are safety, comfort, and sustainability. For comfort purposes, a robust suspension system was designed to avoid any stillborn deaths from vibrations and bumps on the road. An extra seat was included so that a passenger can provide emotional support to the patient or help with physical care. For sustainability purposes, the trailer can be attached to any motorcycle transforming it to an ambulance. It is made from locally sourced materials so that maintenance can be done by local technicians. Each Okoa Ambulance includes a first aid kit, a birthing kit, and contingency kits.
Technical Support
Provided by the manufacturer
Replacement Components
Replaceable components include canopy, medical kits and suspension system
Lifecycle
Unknown
Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters
The Okoa Project aims to save lives by connecting people to the healthcare.
Vetted Performance Status
Safety
Trailer should be properly attached to motorcycle when used. Speed limits and traffic laws should be respected when operating the product.
Complementary Technical Systems
Any available motorcycle
Academic Research and References
Hofman, J. J., Dzimadzi, C., Lungu, K., Ratsma, E. Y. and Hussein, J., 2008, Motorcycle ambulances for referral of obstetric emergencies in rural Malawi: Do they reduce delay and what do they cost?, International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 102, pp. 191-197
Lin, C., Chang, H., Shyu, K., Liu, C., Lin, C., Hung, C. and Chen, P., 1998, A method to reduce response times in prehospital care: The motorcycle experience, The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 16(7), pp. 711-713
Peyravi, MR, Tubaei, F. and Pourmohammadi, K., 2009, The Efficiency of Motorlance in Comparison with Ambulance in Shiraz, Southern Iran, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 11(3), pp. 330-333
Van Der Pols, H., Mencl, F. and De Vos, R., 2011, The impact of an emergency motorcycle response vehicle on prehospital care in an urban area, European Journal of Emergency Medicine, 18(6), pp. 328-333
Nakstad, A., Bjelland, B. and Sandberg, M., 2009, Medical emergency motorcycle – is it useful in a Scandinavian Emergency Medical Service?, Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine, 17(9)
Compliance with regulations
Unknown
Other Information
None
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