The Good Bike Program
Caring for the forgotten Informal Caregivers
The last World Health Organization rankings showed Uganda's healthcare system to be in critical condition. Chronic understaffing and underfunding have left the people of Uganda struggling to access quality care. As a result, when a person is hospitalized, untrained and unprepared family members often must become the "nurse" for their loved ones. In Uganda, they are euphemistically known as Informal Caregivers or Patient Attendants. These unsung heroes feed, bathe, change bandages, and administer medications for their patient. In addition, many are forced to "camp out" on the hospital grounds with no shelter or even a safe place to sleep. Most come from the village with just a few articles of clothing and some pots and pans.
Enter the Good Bike
Isaiah 40:1 says: "Comfort, yes. Comfort my people!" says your God. Good Gaali is using the power of the bicycle to bring God's peace and comfort and the good news of the gospel to the Patient Attendants at the Kabale Regional Referral Hospital in rural southwest Uganda. Each morning, our riders load up their bamboo cargo bikes with supplies and ride to the hospital. In partnership with the hospital, we have developed a one hour "crash course" in the key things that the Attendants need to know to help ensure better outcomes for their patients and to assist the overwhelmed hospital staff in their duties. We cover simple "need to know" information such as what to expect during rounds and how to locate the pharmacy. We also share critical information such as how germs are transmitted and how to properly wash one's hands. After the training, we give the Caregivers a care pack that includes basic necessities such as soap, hand sanitizer, masks and a highly nutritional food item. Finally, and most importantly, we pray with the Caregivers and share the good news of Jesus Christ. All of these activities are designed to improve patient outcomes and to ease the burden on these forgotten Patient Attendants.
Support the Good Bike
- Your donation of $160/month will keep one of our riders on the road for a month
- Your donation of $30/month buys 10 CarePacks per month for the Patient Attendants
- A one-time gift of $1250 builds a complete bamboo bicycle to be used by our riders
Supporta-Potti
As part of our efforts to improve patient outcomes at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, we are teaching the Patient Attendants about germs, germ transmission, sanitation, and hygiene. We are also providing the tools they need to succeed in this area by supplying soap, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper.
Without clean and functioning facilities, however, all that training is for naught. Good Gaali has taken up the charge of keeping the facilities used by the Caregivers clean and sparkling. We need your help. Help us by "Supporting a Potti"!
- A donation of $40 will keep a bathroom stall clean for a month
- Or, "Adopt a Stall" by making a monthly recurring $40 donation. We'll put a small plaque with your name on the stall and keep you updated as to its condition! A perfect humorous (but practical and much needed) gift for a friend or loved one.
Good Gaali Cycling Academy
Healthy Lives, Healthy Environment, Healthy Growth
While the Good Bike Program is designed to bring immediate and short-term relief to the Patient Attendants at KRRH and in the surrounding community, the Cycling Academy will speak into the lives of young people over time and hopefully have a life-long impact. Our plan is to purchase a small plot of land (approximately one hectare) where we will build a pump track to teach bike handling skills and help the young people grow their love of cycling. This plot of land would also allow us to add several container building classrooms and workshops where we will conduct cycling classes, practical skills training (such as bicycle mechanics and frame building), as well as leadership development and discipleship.
The Cycling Academy was our original dream - before God led us to easing the burden of the Patient Attendants at the hospital. (When God puts up a detour, you must follow!) We still would like to do the Academy but it is all according to God's time table. We need your help to make this huge goal a reality!