Yamaha Motor Europe President and CEO, Olivier Prévost, recently visited Riders for Health The Gambia to see up-close how by working with Riders for Health, they are helping transform access to healthcare in The Gambia.
Riders for Health (Riders) and sister organisation Two Wheels for Life have been in a formal partnership with Yamaha since 2022, receiving support from Yamaha for fleet development, fundraising initiatives, and awareness-building campaigns.
Now, after five years, Riders in the Gambia boasts a 100% Yamaha fleet of 167 AG100 motorcycles, including 64 bikes donated by Yamaha.
The partnership has also developed a procurement plan that will see annual orders of bikes at an affordable cost, along with the requisite orders of genuine Yamaha parts to keep the fleet operational.
During his visit, Prévost met Riders’ staff, including skilled motorcycle technicians and trainers and management, including leader of Riders for Health The Gambia, Country Director Therese Drammeh.
By travelling out to remote communities and following a health worker as he visited communities, Prevost witnessed firsthand the difficulties communities in The Gambia face when trying to access healthcare. He also gained insight into the daily challenges our frontline healthcare workers encounter as they work to deliver vaccines, monitor pregnancies, and provide essential care in remote villages.
What stood out to him most was the collaboration between local people, the government, and Riders for Health.
“As a manufacturer, we often think of motorcycles in terms of performance or passion. Visiting Riders for Health has been a reminder that, in some contexts, they can also be life-saving,” said Prévost. “Here, they are not simply a means of transport, but a practical tool that impacts real people and communities. Meeting the professionals and communities that rely on them reinforces the value of product reliability to us.”
Riders for Health ensures that each motorcycle is expertly maintained, allowing healthcare workers to travel safely through difficult terrain.
Olivier Prévost, President and CEO, Yamaha Motor Europe N.V. inspects Yamaha AG100 motorcycle at Riders for Heath The Gambia. Photo credit: Cinatrix Media. From left to right: Ken Diko, Olivier Prévost, Ali Ceesay, Kayode Ajayi and Zoë Herron Coleman.
The Riders team talked to Prévost about the operational realities of rural healthcare delivery and the ways in which Yamaha can continue supporting Riders’ long-term fleet performance.
“Transport is an overlooked and essential part of healthcare in developing countries. Our mission is to achieve a world where health care reaches everyone, everywhere. This can only be done if health-focused organisations have the reliable transport they need to achieve their goals, “ said Andrea Coleman, co-founder Riders for Health and Two Wheels for Life. “For over three decades, Riders for Health has chosen Yamaha AG100 & AG200 motorcycles to transport frontline workers in sub–Saharan Africa, for their ease of maintenance, reliability and suitability for challenging terrain.”
“A major milestone in our partnership, 2026 marks the now complete rebuild of the Gambian fleet to 100% Yamaha motorcycles, achieved with the support of Yamaha as well as fundraising partner Two Wheels for Life,” Coleman continued. “The revitalised fleet will enable Riders for Health to better support life‑saving healthcare for vulnerable communities, and we’re excited to welcome Olivier Prévost to The Gambia as we celebrate this achievement.”
With the current partnership agreement running until 2027, Yamaha plans to deepen its involvement in Riders for Health by continuing to provide motorcycles, supporting fundraising activities, and raising global awareness of Riders’ life-saving work.
“Our role as a partner is to support the teams who make this work possible,” Prévost added. “Their expertise and commitment ensure people in remote areas receive the care they need. We’re proud to stand behind them.”
