4 May 2020
The impact of COVID-19 is being felt by communities all over the world and has posed huge challenges for frontline responders such as healthcare workers and expectant mothers.
Today, we’re proud to announce that in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Nairobi Metropolitan Service, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Kenya Healthcare Federation (KHF), AMREF, Telesky and the University of Nairobi – College of Health Services, we will be offering free rides to expectant mothers who require medical attention during curfew hours.
The partnership, dubbed “Wheels for Life”, will see expectant mothers within Nairobi and its surrounding areas receive free Bolt rides from their homes to the approved health facilities through a dedicated Bolt Business account.
We hope that this initiative will help ease the anxiety that expectant mothers have about accessing medical facilities or dealing with obstetric emergencies during curfew hours and reduce the risk of a maternal crisis during the pandemic.
Our responsibility doesn’t end at providing these rides free of charge, we will also be working hand in hand with call centres manned by medical workers who will be assessing the severity of cases, advising next steps and helping pregnant women hail Bolt vehicles to move them to the closest medical facility.
Other partners in this initiative include Rescue.co and Pharmaccess Foundation who provide real-time ambulance dispatches for the emergency cases that require specialized medical attention.
In line with government directives, drivers on the Bolt platform, working to provide essential services, will be provided special permits that allow for smooth passage throughout the journey during curfew times. Bolt vehicles will also be aired out after each ride and the back seats disinfected on a regular basis to reduce the risk of spreading of the virus.
Should you or anyone you know need to access this service, simply dial the toll-free line 1196. The service is presently limited to the Nairobi Metropolitan area only.
Stay safe!
