In a region where the only reliable transportation takes place by boat, we decided to build a regional hospital on a ship that travels up and down the coastlines, serving the remote lakeside communities. But we are more than just a floating hospital – we are partners to the lakeside communities, advocating for the needs of the lake and her people.
LTFHC Founder Amy Lehman participated on a Global Health panel during the 10th annual GE conference for senior women business leaders themed “Leading & Learning,” held May 7-9 at GE’s Leadership Training Campus in Ossining, NY. This event brought together some of the most prominent women in the world to discuss global trends, innovation, leadership, and growth challenges. Leading & Learning provides a unique forum for senior female executives to learn, grow, and network.
Interview by Dr. Claire Novorol
What inspired you to set up the Lake Tanganyika Floating Health Clinic?
I went to school with a number of students from Africa and I had always been fascinated by the place. To me, going into the heart of Africa was the ultimate adventure.
I travelled around the Lake Tanganyika area by boat a few years back and while there a typhoon caused the airstrip to be washed away, so we ended up stuck! I traversed the coastline and saw there was a large population living around the shores of the lake, in parts of the Congo, Burundi and Western Tanzania, that was completely cut off from the rest of the world. The road systems were poor and there were major supply chain issues. The only way to reach all of those people was via boat and that’s when I had the idea for the Floating Clinic.
Hewlett Packard helps the LTFHC launch vital healthcare services along the world’s longest lake. Read more >>
