The Romanian Red Cross has purchased four IVECO DAILY vehicles equipped with high-performance medical equipment. With financial support from the French Red Cross, these vehicles will be distributed across 14 counties in Romania.
As a result, residents of remote areas, as well as over 110,000 Ukrainian citizens settled in Romania, will have the opportunity to benefit from free medical services—helping them detect life-threatening conditions in time.
IVECO DAILY Vehicles for the Health Caravan
The four vehicles will be part of a convoy consisting of six mobile medical units as part of the Health Caravan Initiative. The action was launched by the Romanian Red Cross (Societatea Națională de Cruce Roșie din România).
The first stop of the Health Caravan will take place in Galați on June 12, with plans to reach the counties of Călărași, Constanța, Tulcea, Vaslui, Iași, Botoșani, Suceava, Maramureș, Satu Mare, Sălaj, Brașov, Sibiu, and Cluj by August 2024.
The official launch of the Health Caravan project took place at Romexpo Bucharest and was marked by the presence of Her Excellency Laurence Auer – Ambassador of France to Romania, Tiberius Marius Brădățan – State Secretary in the Ministry of Health, as well as Camelia Șucu – President of the Romanian Red Cross, Ioan Silviu Lefter – General Director of the Romanian Red Cross, Hicham M’ghafri – Health Delegate for the French Red Cross in Romania, Youness Rahoui – Head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Delegation in Romania, Emilie Goller – Head of the Delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Romania, Claudia Butoarcă – Marketing Director of IVECO Romania, along with representatives of Ukrainian refugees from the Health Promotion Center in Bucharest and volunteers and partners of the Romanian Red Cross.
“Equal access to medical services is a goal actively promoted by the Romanian Red Cross through the Health Caravan project. We want every person—regardless of origin, socioeconomic status, or place of residence—to have access to quality healthcare. Through our actions, we aim to reduce health inequalities and help build a healthier future for all,”
said Ioan Silviu Lefter, General Director of the Romanian Red Cross.
Vehicles Equipped with Special Equipment
The four 3.5-ton IVECO DAILY vehicles were prepared and delivered by IVECO TRUCK SERVICES. The bodywork was carried out by AFICAR UTILAJE, a specialized partner also known for creating mobile medical units for similar projects.
The vehicles are equipped with special features, including twin rear wheels for the rear axle and a robust C-profile steel chassis—unique in the industry. The construction of this chassis enabled a 5-meter body length, allowing for the creation of a spacious and functional area for the mobile medical clinics to operate under optimal conditions.
The collaboration between the Romanian Red Cross and IVECO Romania began in 2020. Last year, IVECO Romania donated three DAILY-range vehicles to the organization, valued at €150,000, specially equipped for transporting medicines, medical equipment, or food.
The Romanian Red Cross has established Health Promotion Centers in five counties—Brașov, Bucharest, Constanța, Iași, and Satu Mare, alongside the mobile medical units. These centers target individuals with complex needs and offer primary healthcare services and psychosocial assistance. Teams composed of specialist doctors, medical assistants, and Red Cross volunteers assess beneficiaries’ health through basic medical tests and provide consultations in general medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, vision care, dentistry, and other specialties.
First Edition of the Caravan Brings Positive Impact to 21 Communities Across the Country
In 2022, the Romanian Red Cross launched the first edition of the Caravan, highlighting once again the limitations faced by people from isolated areas in accessing screenings and medical information. The data collected from the 21 communities visited showed the following:
- 75.49% of respondents visit their family doctor no more than 2-3 times a year.
- 30% of them have not undergone any specialized medical investigations in the past year (ultrasounds, ECGs, X-rays, MRIs, blood tests).
According to questionnaires completed by 857 people between February and March 2022.
The information gathered in the first edition of the Caravan revealed that the main health issues faced by the population were heart diseases—720 respondents, diabetes—485, weight problems—157, followed by issues with the lungs, stomach, liver, or pancreas.
“We are happy to be alongside the Romanian Red Cross again this year as part of the Health Caravan initiative, as a Supporter Member of the organization. We understand the importance of unrestricted access to medical services, and the four IVECO DAILY vehicles, specially adapted to host mobile clinics, will facilitate access to healthcare for people in isolated communities or disadvantaged environments,” said Claudia Butoarcă, Marketing Director at IVECO Romania.
