ExxonMobil has joined up with Project Rwanda and Malaria No More to help improve access to malaria advice.

ExxonMobil has donated bicycles to community health workers in Rwanda as part of a new partnership between the oil giant and Malaria No More and Project Rwanda.

The provision of bicycles will help health workers at the Rukara Health Facility – a faith-based operation in partnership with the Rwandan government – to reach more families with life-saving malaria prevention advice.

The oil and gas company established its Africa Health Initiative in 2000 in support of the Abuja Declaration on Roll Back Malaria in Africa, which set a goal to halve deaths caused by malaria by 2010. As part of this initiative, it will be spending $10,000 (£6,000) on the distribution of bicycles through its ‘Bikes for Rukara’ programme.

ExxonMobil’s Medical Director for Global Health Issues, Dr Steven Phillips, said: “We are proud to be supporting the Rukara Health Facility, whose efforts have demonstrated the effectiveness of malaria prevention and treatment programmes.

“These bicycles will increase the health workers’ abilities to significantly broaden community outreach and impact.”

ExxonMobil has joined up with two charities which are committed to safeguarding Rwanda’s population. Malaria No More was set up with the primary goal of eradicating malaria deaths in Africa, and aims to provide universal access to malaria interventions with a target of ending all deaths by 2015. Project Rwanda is committed to furthering the economic development of Rwanda through initiatives based on the bicycle as a tool and symbol of hope.

The Rukara Health Facility is viewed as a model by the Rwandan government for tackling global health issues.