Lina Sala describes the difference that vehicles, bought with money from The Global Fund have made in reaching tuberculosis patients and delivering medical supplies to the hospitals. Interview in English Windows Media | MP3

My full name is Ortilia Natalina Sala and I am the person who founded Archangelo Ali.  Each hospital must have one car to take the patient from outside the bush where you do your mobilization back to the hospital again, because you find the patient in the country in very bad condition sometimes, because tuberculosis makes you very weak. You're not able to walk to reach the facility hospital to receive the diagnosis.

When it is raining you imagine there are not roads like in Europe. South Sudan soil in some places is like sand and when the water comes, the sand becomes mud and you are not able to come out. You know, I have sometimes stayed in the car for three days. I’m stuck out in the mud. That is again with a radio in the car. Global Fund provides car with a radio communication connected to the hospital.

Then, motorcycle is for the worker when during the rainy season the car is not able to move out because the car is stuck in the mud, the motorcycle is easier. The motorcycle can move out to follow up the patients who are at home or to check a new patient.

During the rainy season, it is not possible for the truck to reach the hospital with the cargo. Cargo means drugs, beds or something need for the patient. When the drugs are coming drugs, fuel every thing comes by flight. The car is needed to reach the first close airport where they come with the cargo — and then they collect the cargo from the plane to take to the hospital.

South Sudan is something you must see to know because when you see you understand really. When I entered in 97, I was crying, crying for two weeks, because when the plane takes me to the ground, there was nothing around. After two weeks I start to love the patients. That lasts forever. But if you go now, you feel that is the last place in the world, it’s true. But you must go ahead because the Sudanese have to come out — go on receiving the service like other country and not to remain the last country.