Diary & Travel Reports from the saddle

Report on Malaria Control by Motorcycle in Belize - 10th January 2003

Ahhh, I just got back from diving, all nitrogenated out tired but happy.

Many thanks to SeaSports Belize who took me out to the world's second largest barrier reef. Tonight I hope to catch one of the nice 15 pound fish that last night blatently swan around my artifical bait I want to break the cycle of minnows. Within a few days I'll be up in the Western jungle canoeing through an underground cave showing ancient Maya artifacts. Belize is great, even the old buccaneer spirit seems well alive in the main city. More to come on that later.

I found a pleasant surprise in this tiny country, read on...

The Belize solution

Jorge A Polanco, Deputy Director of Health Services of the Ministry of Health in Belize City, informs that eight Vector Control personel use 125cc trail type machines on a daily basis. They have been doing so for the last 20 years. They are sent out to collect blood samples of suspected malaria cases for analysis. They are able to completely cover the small country which is 8,866 square miles of population 250,000.

The riders visit villages according to a schedule for their entire district. Blood samples are sometimes waiting to be collected, having been prepared by community nursing aids. Other times the rider prepares the samples. There are two types of surveillance, passive resulting from visits to doctors, and active by using motorcycles to get out there.

Financial

The Government Health Ministry buys the bikes tax free for about US$2,500 each which are then assigned to the Vector Control personel. The riders pay for the motorcycles, interest free, over three years, after which ownership is fully transferred to the rider. The amount is deducted from their salary, at a rate of about US$55 per month, about 10% of the wage. There is a tax payment due at this time, but it is much reduced because the motorcycle is then second hand.

The riders receive two allowances every month: bike maintenance costs of US$25 plus a mileage allowance of US$75. Formal monitoring is not required because not the close working relationship of the whole team, and if the bike is not running the allowances are not paid. (There is a daily meal allowance too, US$7.50 for 6-7 hours on the road, US$15 for 9 hours plus.)

The motorcycle related allowances are paid from the Health Ministry’s Vector Control Unit budget.

Up to 5 years ago the repayments of the riders were kept in a revolving fund to purchase more motorcycles, and functioned well. However it was discontinued by the government.

Maintenance & Training

The riders were given a one off course in conducting monthly mechanical servicing by a local workshop. The running of the motorcycles is totally the responsibility of the rider. Generally the motorcycles give three years of trouble free service, most last for 5-6 years, some last more than 10 years.

There has been no formal training on road safety and defensive riding skills, and neither on riding over difficult terrain. There was just one major accident in working hours which resulted in full recovery of the rider. Riders are also responsible for their own safety equipment.

Dr Polanco has offered to share information with interested parties:
Jorge A. Polanco, MD, MPH
Deputy Director of Health Services
Belize Ministry of Health
Tel: 501 227 7348/501 224 5767, jorgepolanco14@hotmail.com

Simon Milward, on the road

A solo fundraising round the world ride on a handmade motorcycle. Help us help motorcycles and motorcyclists improve the health of fellow human beings.

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