HAFF's Ambulance Service

Elizert Vilbon at the wheel.

 Some nights HAFF chauffeur/mechanic, Elizert Vilbon doesn't get to sleep. He and HAFF's vehicles are often available any time of the day or night to take people with medical emergencies to the hospital in Pignon. And some nights, he no sooner gets home from taking one person to the hospital than someone else calls with the same need! Some weeks, he says, no one needs the ride. Other weeks there can be 15 trips. A more common week has 3 to 5 trips. Elizert was thankful to note that Cholera hasn't been much of a problem lately. When asked what emergencies are the most common, Elizert replied, “Pregnant women and some motorcycle accidents.”

Elizert isn't the only driver. His assistant Fordnet Cadet is available during the work day and missionaries Colin and Carla Wilson also drive during the days and share the night duties with Elizert. The calls can come from a neighbor close by or from people up in the mountains to the east or out on the savanna southeast of HAFF. Some people might be a 5 minute drive, while others might be 30 minutes or more away. The hospital in Pignon is about half an hour north west of HAFF.

Elizert commented on the importance of HAFF's ambulance service. “It is the most important of work. I equate it with the work of any health worker. It is a service that saves lives. There are people with serious problems who have no money to pay to ride a bus to the hospital. Others have the money, but live far away where there is no bus service. If we didn't take them, people would need to carry them to the hospital on a bed and they could die on the way.”

A family in the Land Cruiser on their way to the hospital

There are joys attached to driving people to the hospital. Elizert said that there have been about 6 times that he knows of this year that a baby has been born in the vehicle – sometimes right as they drove into the hospital yard! In that case, he is generally asked by the family to turn around and take them back home. There has also been sorrow. He said, “maybe twice, I have gotten to the hospital only to find that the person has died on the way.” Sometimes people come to tell him thank you. But very rarely does he hear how things turn out for the people he drives. Yet, in any situation when local people are asked to tell what HAFF does, one of the first things that will be mentioned is that HAFF will take anyone to the hospital at any time day or night.

The ambulance service is one of HAFF's Compassion/Mercy Ministries. Other Compassion/Mercy Ministries of HAFF are the medical, dental and eyeglass clinics on the HAFF campus. While these ministries are not the main focus of HAFF's work, they are a necessary response to the needs of HAFF's neighbors and a way of showing the love of Christ. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” 1 John 3:17 NIV