I returned last night from my long three day motorbike trip to visit health clinics in the northern area of the Bulape Health Zone. We traveled to the farthest clinic from the Bulape Hospital in the village of Bokila located on the banks of the Sankuru River.
We left on Sunday morning before 8am and traveled all day. We arrived in Bokila about 4pm. He had to cross another minor river by a dugout canoe to reach Bokila. Fortunately, we did not have to cross the Sankuru River since it is much bigger.
The trip was only 145 kilometers or about 90 miles. However, the road was very, very bad in some places, and better in other places. The scenery was just a varied and really breath taking.
We only stopped to let the nurses know that we would stop at their location on the way back for a more formal visit and inspection. These clinics are really isolated but support the many villages in this remote area.
Six of us traveled on three motorbike. The group included the new health zone doctor, three of his supervisors and inspectors, Justin, and myself. We survived with only two flat tires (one going up and the other coming back). Also, one of the drivers stopped to clean his fouled spark plug. But that was nothing!
I rode on the last motobike. And we ran out of gas on the way back. It happened on the best part of the road when we were really going the fastest on a dusty savannah road. Of course, the others did not see us slowing down to a stop. The driver pushed the motorbike as I walked behind until we reached the next village about 2 to 3 miles away. Then, finally, the second bike returned looking for us. After getting a liter of gas from the other bike, we were off again.
There is no communication means in that area of central Congo. It will be years before cell towers arrive. The clinics are in need of HF radio to contact the Bulape Hospital in case of an emergency and for non-emergencies like we need gas.
Please visit www.EndingExtremePoverty.org For more about my Congo work.
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