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There is the possibility to buy an ambulance, partly already sponsored by the orgaization "MIVA".
We need quick help to step in that project as well as probably finding more contacts in Senegal because at the moment we are still waiting for answer of the possible host club.
The proposed project addresses an urgent gap in emergency medical care and first-aid access in the wider Kafountine region in Senegal. The region serves approximately 40,000 people and is characterized by long distances, difficult sandy roads, bushland, and limited transport infrastructure. For many villages outside the immediate surroundings of the general hospital, access to urgent medical help is delayed or not reliably available.
This situation creates a serious risk for patients in medical emergencies, including accidents, childbirth complications, acute illness, and other urgent health situations. A former ambulance vehicle existed in the region, but it became obsolete and irreparable several years ago. Since then, the hospital and the surrounding communities have lacked a reliable emergency vehicle suitable for the local terrain.
The project aims to purchase and provide a Toyota Land Cruiser 78 Hardtop ambulance vehicle. This type of vehicle is especially suited for use in developing regions and under difficult road conditions. Its robust construction, four-wheel drive, and off-road capability make it appropriate for the sandy roads and remote village areas around Kafountine.
The ambulance will be handed over to the local hospital and stationed there. The hospital will provide the driver and nursing staff required for patient transport. The vehicle will be used to reach villages outside the hospital area, provide urgent first-aid support where needed, and transport patients safely and more quickly to medical care.
An exceptional opportunity is available through cooperation with MIVA Austria. According to the current budget offer, the total quoted amount is EUR 35,100 and includes the vehicle, special ambulance equipment, preliminary freight, and freight including insurance via Antwerp to Dakar under CPT Dakar conditions. MIVA Austria has indicated that approximately 50% of the vehicle cost can be covered through its support.
Rotary support is therefore needed to finance the remaining contribution toward the vehicle and ambulance equipment, as well as any additional transport, handling, customs, registration, or local transfer costs that may arise between Dakar and the final project location in the Kafountine region. These additional costs are currently estimated at approximately EUR 4,000 to EUR 5,000 and will be clarified before final implementation.
This cost-sharing structure significantly increases the impact of Rotary funding, as the project can provide a high-value emergency vehicle at a substantially reduced cost to the Rotary partners. The requested project budget will be calculated conservatively to ensure that the ambulance can be delivered, handed over, and made operational without leaving uncovered transport or implementation costs.
MIVA Austria is an Austrian aid organization with a Christian background that has supported mobility in underserved regions for many decades. Its work focuses on providing vehicles for health care, education, pastoral care, and development cooperation in areas where distances are long and infrastructure is limited.
The implementation, coordination, and control of the project will be carried out through the association Diamani Kouta, which is already active in the region and has established local trust. The valuable and sustainable work of Diamani Kouta has also been confirmed by the local Christian community of Kafountine, whose recommendation is an important basis for the cooperation with MIVA Austria.
Within the Rotary Club Gastein, Claudia Krenn is the main responsible person for this project. She will coordinate communication, documentation, and follow-up on behalf of the club. Additional oversight can be provided through Albrecht Zimburg, also a member of the Rotary Club Gastein. In his professional role as Austrian Trade Commissioner based in Casablanca, with responsibility for West Africa, he has regional access and the possibility to support monitoring and follow-up through Dakar.
The Rotary Club Ziguinchor has been contacted as the potential host club in Senegal. The project partners are currently awaiting confirmation. No transfer of funds to the host club is planned, as payment would be made directly to MIVA Austria. The host club’s role would be to provide the necessary local Rotary partnership, confirmation, and follow-up support in accordance with Rotary Foundation requirements.
The expected impact of the project is a significant improvement in access to emergency medical care for people living in remote villages around Kafountine. The ambulance will reduce delays in emergency transport, improve the hospital’s ability to reach patients outside its immediate location, and strengthen the region’s basic emergency response capacity.
The project will include monitoring and evaluation. Indicators may include the number of emergency transports carried out, the number of villages served, the number of patients transported, response times where measurable, and regular reports from the hospital regarding vehicle use, maintenance, staffing, and operational challenges.
The long-term sustainability of the project is supported by the fact that the ambulance will be operated by the local hospital, which will provide the driver and medical personnel. Diamani Kouta will support coordination and control on site, while Rotary Club Gastein and its responsible members will provide documentation and follow-up. The involvement of MIVA Austria, the local hospital, Diamani Kouta, the Christian community of Kafountine, and the future host Rotary club creates a broad and accountable partnership structure.
This project is aligned with Rotary’s area of focus Disease Prevention and Treatment. It strengthens access to medical services, improves emergency medical transport, and supports vulnerable rural populations in a region where distance and poor infrastructure are major barriers to timely health care. The project is designed as a practical, sustainable, and locally managed intervention with clear Rotary oversight and measurable community benefit.
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