Dec 19, 2007
We’d heard about Heaven’s Angels last year and was intrigued in what they were doing. Here is some info on this non-profit which was founded by Sir Richard Branson (Virgin Air fame). Virgin Unite is a charitable movement that works to drive grassroots change and make a real difference in the lives of people around the world who need it most. It focuses on three core areas – the environment, youth in need and stopping the spread of the “Big Three” preventable diseases: HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Care workers ride motorcycles into remote and impoverished areas of Sub-Saharan Africa and deliver life-saving medical supplies to people in need of care. It’s estimated that just $11,000 will buy a new motorcycle, employ a health worker, and cover their running costs for the first year. Heaven’s Angels Rural Transport Network provides community health clinics with motorbikes so their health workers can deliver essential medicines, health supplies and water purification products, and provide health education to people in rural areas. And in Nigeria, bikes are used also to improve access to obstetric care to help prevent Fistula, a life-shattering childbirth injury affecting hundreds of thousands of women. Pretty impressive, for just one health worker and a bike! Maybe we should have Sir. Branson look at our healthcare here in the USA!
