It's official...

The following news release was distributed today. A press conference was held this morning in Gaborone introducing the program to the international media. We'll have pictures from the event soon.
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BICYCLING TEAMS WITH BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB FOUNDATION, KONA BICYCLE COMPANY TO LAUNCH “BIKETOWN AFRICA”

International expansion of acclaimed BikeTown program will deliver 200 specially-designed bikes to health care workers in Botswana to assist in HIV and AIDS care

GABORONE, BOTSWANA (November 30, 2005) – Bicycling magazine Editor-In-Chief Steve Madden and Publisher Chris Lambiase announced today that the magazine will partner with the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and the Kona Bicycle Company to bring its acclaimed BikeTown program to the African nation of Botswana in Spring 2006.

The program, BikeTown Africa, is designed to assist health care workers treating HIV and AIDS patients with the delivery of home health aids and services in two Botswana cities, Bobonong and the capital city of Gaborone, beginning in late March 2006.

BikeTown Africa will be operated in conjunction with two programs of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation’s SECURE THE FUTURE program, an unprecedented $150 million corporate commitment to fighting HIV and AIDS in Africa. SECURE THE FUTURE has established a number of HIV and AIDS treatment programs throughout sub-Saharan Africa, including Botswana, where the HIV rate among citizens is 38%.

Kona Bikes has generously agreed to specially design, construct and donate the 200 bikes to be utilized for BikeTown Africa, bikes that will be specifically tailored to best suit local conditions while also requiring a minimum of maintenance. Spare parts and the training of local individuals on the repair and service of the bikes will ensure the bikes are fully utilized.

See the full release here.

Comments

[Alan Lloyd]

Can anything learnt by the project to distribute Trek-designed CaliforniaBikes (elsewhere) in Africa be of use to tis project?

See http://www.itdp.org/AccessAfrica_californiabike.html