The Good Bike Program
Caring for the Caregivers
Imagine that one of your loved ones is in a terrible accident and has landed in the hospital. Now, imagine that you must drop everything, travel long distances, and become the primary caregiver for your loved one! You're worried, you're confused, you don't know what to do or how to do it. How will the rest of the family manage while you're gone?
Sadly, this is the current reality of hospital care in Uganda. Due to a severe shortage of healthcare professionals throughout the country, patients who are admitted for treatment have to provide for their own care. This critical function usually falls to a close friend or relative who becomes known as the "Patient Attendant" (PA) or "Informal Caregiver." The hospital provides the necessary treatment, a bed and a meal for the patient, but the PA performs most of the rest of the necessary nursing functions such as feeding, bathing, changing bandages, and administering medicines. These everyday heroes for the most part have no medical training or experience. For the most part, they have no place to stay and little money for food, transportation, or other necessities.
Good Gaali demonstrates our love for humanity by stepping into this difficult situation and providing Caregiver training, basic necessities, and spiritual care and support for the Caregivers and their patients. Each day, the Good Gaali bikes load up with supplies and make their way to the hospital to meet up with the new arrivals. Our goal in this difficult situation is to improve healthcare outcomes for the patient and to ease the burden facing the PAs that care for them. By showing the love of Christ in real and practical ways, and by offering a time of prayer and fellowship, we aim to share the good news of the gospel with hurting and frightened people who really need hope.
How it Works
Patient Attendants
Patient Attendants
Patient Attendants
Wives, mothers, and grandmothers arrive at the hospital to care for their loved ones with no training or understanding of the task at hand...
Good Gaali Riders
Patient Attendants
Patient Attendants
The Good Gaali Riders load up the bikes each morning with supplies to be distributed to the Patient Attendants
Education
Patient Attendants
Education
Our riders conduct an orientation training session for the newly arrived Caregivers so they understand what is expected of them
Training
Education
Topics such as what to expect during rounds, germs and germ prevention, safety, hazardous waste, and hygiene are covered
CarePacks
We distribute a CarePack to each attendant containing helpful items such as face masks, soap, hand sanitizer, and food
Sharing the Good News
Our Riders pray with the Patient Attendants and share the good news of the gospel to let them know how much God loves them!