Rocket man donates motorbikes to help medics

VETERAN pop star Elton John has donated 120 motorbikes to help doctors and nurses do their rounds in the mountainous southern African kingdom of Lesotho.

John and his partner David Furnish, visited Lesotho for the handover ceremony on Saturday.

The donation is part of the Riders for Health Programme funded by John’s AIDS foundation.

“We want to improve the transport system by bringing healthcare to millions of people living in the most rural areas and thus making a difference in their lives,” said John.

The five-year programme is run with the Lesotho government, which will help maintain the bikes and instruct local health staff in riding them.

Health ministry spokesman Tumisang Mokoai said: “The nurses and doctors will have transport to follow up patients in the villages to support community health workers.”