Mobile Medical Aid for Haiti, by Haiti

Mobile Medical Unit can be transported by a person, donkey, or Tap-Tap (Truck).

This project would provide the opportunity for the distribution of medical aid to Haitian people in remote locations. The main components include a 55 gallon oil drum and two wheels. The size of the mobile medical unit bridges the gap between a standard backpack and a full service ambulance. The mobile medial unit can also be used as a modular unit to transport a larger amount of medical supplies. Lastly, and most important, the majority of the materials needed to construct this project can be found and assembled RIGHT IN HAITI.

Exploded view of the Mobile Medical Unit's components.

In continuation of this project, I will redesign the handle attachment to the oil drum. In the present case, the rope wraps around the barrel and is strung through a pipe to provide a rigid separation between either other barrels or the person transporting the Mobile Medical Unit. However, further thought needs to be taken on the functionality and ease of transportation.

The storage container rolls up to fit in the barrel and unrolls for easy access and easy sight lines to all available supplies.

As previously stated, all of the materials to construct the unit, except for the storage container, can be found in Haiti. This allows for a cost effective way to produce and maintain the unit. The design assumes that the Haitians ability to maintain Tap-Taps puts them beyond the skills needed to construct this unit.

This system of manufacturing also allows for ease in the transportation of medical supplies from the United States. The only component that will not be produced in Haiti is the storage container. This way, the container can be manufactured, packed with supplies, and shipped to Haiti all in one action.

The design and materials allows this mobile medical unit to be durable and traverse many types of terrains.

Mobile Medical Unit used as a modular device to transport a larger amount of medical supplies.

This first project has also helped me by providing an initial understanding of typical medical needs in Haiti and the limitations in available construction material and methods.  The resources in the United States, which are typically taken for granted, have primed us as designers to design in a way that we are most accustomed to and this puts us at a distinct disadvantage for the upcoming project. In conclusion, I hope to continue to augment my understanding and knowledge of the Haitian culture in an effort to best meet the needs of the Haitian people both medically and psychologically.

Update on Monday, February 18, 2013 at 11:10AM by Stephen Sawyer

I am interested in this method of distributing medicine using material that is easy to scavenge in Haiti.  The use of the water tight container is really good as it provides great security for the medicine.  It could also easily be walked behind when going over the hill so the unit would travel under its own weight.  It would be a bit bulky going up hill though 

Comments

[Alicia Wetherington]

I love the simplicity and reuse of materials in this project. And I think the core works very well (I like the drawer idea that came up in the review though). It would be really interesting the use the empty cylinder of space right in the middle as a separate storage unit for the examination area since, apparently, it has to be separate from the pharmacy anyway. Something kind of like the blue core idea from Christian and Michelle's project maybe?

[Deanna Olson]

I like how you considered reusing material in the area as well as the different types of transport. Your unit frees up space on the tap taps to transport a lot of people as well as a number of your units. I think your exploration of how the unit goes together was simple to understand and very well detailed. It is obvious you thought through the mechanics, great project!