Recent NEWS
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #worldprematurityday2025
18 November 2025
The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) was active in two districts yesterday , Monday, November 17, 2025, as Ndola and Ng’anga Bilonda in Mwansabombwe held impactful programmes to mark World Prematurity Day under the theme “Give Preterm Babies a Strong Start for a Better Future.”
In Ndola, the day commenced with a flag-off procession from the Broadway Roundabout to the Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH).
The event, organized by the Ndola District Health Office, was officiated by the Ndola District Commissioner’s Office, represented by Ms. Harriet Ngosa.
The Zambia Flying Doctor Service was a key participant, reinforcing its continued support for maternal and neonatal health in Ndola and across the Country.
Mwansabombwe District held a vibrant and heartfelt commemoration at ZFDS's Ng'anga Bilonda Hospital drawing together health workers, community members, and stakeholders.
The programme included a captivating poem and play by Mbereshi School of Nursing and an emotional moment with testimonies from families sharing stories of resilience and hope.
The District Commissioner (DC), Mr. Ivo Mpasa serving as Guest of Honour, toured the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to gain firsthand insight into care and concluded by presenting hampers to mothers of preterm infants as a gesture of encouragement and support.
As ZFDS we ensure that we prioritize health care for all.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #nsengelekununkatraditionalceremony, #universalcoverageforall
18 November 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) over the weekend provided essential free medical services to the community of Machiya, Mpongwe District, during the annual Nsengele Kununka Traditional Ceremony of the Lamba people.
Led by Dr. Jonathan Masalo, the ZFDS team established tents in the main arena, attending to numerous community members throughout the day. Services offered included:
* General consultations
* Dental check-ups
* Eye examinations (with free reading glasses provided to many attendees)
* Laboratory tests
* Pharmacy support (with essential medicines available on site)
During the event, Dr. Masalo and ophthalmologist William Kaira successfully attended to an emergency eye injury case, demonstrating the team's readiness and expertise.
Before the ceremony began, the ZFDS team paid a courtesy call on His Royal Highness Chief Machiya.Adding to the day's excitement, the ZFDS helicopter also made a special appearance in Machiya.
The Nsengele Kununka Ceremony, which translates to “the smell of the gun powder,” was officially graced by the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Charles Milupi, who represented President Hakainde Hichilema.
The event was also attended by Copperbelt Minister Hon. Elisha Matambo and several traditional leaders from across Zambia, showcasing the rich cultural performances and heritage of the Lamba people.
#zfdstheateropens2025, #ministryofhealth, #zambiaflyingdoctorservice
15 November 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) has today 15th November ,2025 received a major upgrade to its clinical capabilities following the official handover of a fully refurbished operating theatre and a state-of-the-art dental unit at the AeroMED James Lawless facility in Ndola.
The donation was formalized by Indo Zambia Bank (IZB), strengthening the public-private partnership aimed at enhancing specialized healthcare delivery across remote parts of the Country.
The ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Health, Hon. Elijah Muchima, MP, who used the occasion to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to reinforcing national healthcare infrastructure.
The Copperbelt Minister,Hon. Elisha Matambo also present at the handover, praised the revitalization efforts at ZFDS. He noted that the quality of service delivery now available at the James Lawless facility is “comparable to hospitals abroad,” signifying a major improvement in the Service’s infrastructure and operational capacity.
Speaking on behalf of ZFDS, CEO Dr. George Nguni, expressed profound gratitude for the timely intervention. Dr. Nguni highlighted that the enhanced theatre and new dental equipment will significantly boost the Service’s ability to conduct high-quality surgical procedures and comprehensive dental care during their extensive outreach programs.
Indo Zambia Bank’s Managing Director Mr. Brajesh Kumar Singh reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, guided by the philosophy that “healthy communities are strong communities.”
The Managing Director detailed the Bank’s significant contributions to the health sector, which surpass ZMW two million with theater and dental equipment worth about ZMW one million being donated to the Service.
ZFDS Board Chairperson, Dr. Rosemary Kumwenda, emphasized that the collaboration directly supports the Service’s core mandate: providing accessible, specialized, and life-saving healthcare services to hard-to-reach areas of Zambia.
His Royal Highness, Chief Nkambo delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging the “remarkable improvements” in service delivery witnessed at ZFDS and celebrating the sustained collaboration that continues to yield tangible benefits for local communities.
Other notable dignitaries present were His Royal Highness Chief Chiwala of Masaiti and part of Ndola district. The Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary-Represented by MOH Director Clinical Care,Dr. Lisulo Walubita, The Copperbelt Province Permanent secretary,Mr. Lawrence Mwanza,The Ndola District Commissioner,Ms Precious Njekwa,The Provincial Health Director,Dr. Charles Mwinuna , The General Manager for Indo Zambia Bank,Mr Godwin Ngoma, Indo Zambia bank Assistant General Manager Mr. Chenjelani Banda ,The Children International Zambia Country Director Ms.Doras Chirwa - Represented by Mr. Vincent Simangolwa to mention but a few.
The refurbished facility is immediately operational and expected to contribute to a substantial increase in the volume and complexity of surgical and dental services provided by the ZFDS.
As ZFDS we are grateful for the support given to us and for each and every stakeholder for being part of this achievement. We continue to pledge our commitment in ensuring Universal Healthcare is achieved for all.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #solwezimedicalevacuation
09 November 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) executed a vital emergency evacuation yesterday , airlifting a 28-year-old Road ,Traffic Accident victim from Solwezi to the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka.
The male patient was just hours away from potential permanent paralysis after suffering a fall from a truck on October 11, 2025.
A CT scan revealed a spinal fracture and dislocation that needed immediate neurosurgical intervention unavailable in the Northwestern Province.
Dr. Joshua Chisanga, Acting Senior Medical Superintendent at Solwezi, confirmed the prognosis, stating, "He required immediate transfer to a specialist unit to prevent the possibility of permanent paralysis."
Responding to the urgent request and approval via the Ministry of Health (MOH), ZFDS team immediately mobilized.
The Air Ambulance 9J-AGC was dispatched from Ndola's Zuze Air Base and It landed in Solwezi at 11:15 hours.
The mission, led by pilot Mr. Lasford Manchisi and Pilot Chanda Mupangwe, took off at 11:46 hours from Solwezi and landed safely at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) ZAF base at 13:20 hours.
An emergency ambulance from UTH was already waiting at the Airport, rushing the patient straight to the neurosurgical unit for urgent treatment.
The seamless,transfer not only secured the specialist surgery but effectively saved the patient’s life by preventing irreversible damage.
We wish the patient a quick recovery.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #missionintheair, #mansaevacuation, #chinsalievacuation
04 November 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) yesterday successfully executed life-saving emergency medical evacuation mission across two provinces, airlifting four patients from Chinsali General Hospital and one patient from Mansa General Hospital to Lusaka for advanced specialist treatment.
The urgent referral requests were made by Dr. Mackford Chipili, Medical Superintendent at Mansa General Hospital, and Dr. Simuyemba Kasuba, Acting Medical Superintendent at Chinsali General Hospital, citing the need for specialized intervention at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and the National Heart Hospital.
Approval for the transfers was granted by the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Dr. Lishimpi.
The ZFDS aircraft, registration 9J-FDS, commenced the mission from Ndola at 07:02 hours, landing in Mansa at 07:55 hours before proceeding to Chinsali, where it arrived at 10:30 hours. The medical team promptly prepared the patients for transfer, three of whom required continuous oxygen support.
The aircraft departed Chinsali at 11:31 hours, with ZFDS paramedics providing continuous in-flight medical monitoring and care. The mission was successfully completed under the command of Chief Pilot Patrick Kawanu and Co-Pilot Elvis Kite, with the aircraft landing safely in Lusaka at 13:20 hours.
Upon arrival at the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Base at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, the patients were immediately handed over to awaiting ambulance teams and transferred to UTH and the National Heart Hospital for urgent management.
The Zambia Flying Doctor Service remains dedicated in its commitment to delivering cost-effective and efficient aeromedical services across the Country.
#chakwelamakumbitraditionalceremony, #zambiaflyingdoctorservice
03 November 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS), in collaboration with the Chongwe District Health Office, provided integrated healthcare services at the 2025 Chakwela Makumbi Traditional Ceremony, reaching the Soli community gathered at Makuyu Royal Palace in Nkomeshya Village, Chongwe District.
The ZFDS team was lead by Director Legal Services and Corporate Affairs,Mrs Luyando Mbilika-Shimalukwe and Director Medical Services, Director Medical Services,Dr. Chisanga Puta who paid a courtesy on her Royal Highness Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II. The team conducted a medical outreach during the annual ceremony held under the theme "Our Heritage, Our Future."
The ZFDS team deployed dental, eye care, laboratory, pharmacy, and general medical services to address healthcare access gaps among ceremony attendees and local residents. Medical professionals conducted dental examinations and treatments, performed eye screenings and distributed corrective lenses, provided laboratory diagnostic services, dispensed medications through pharmacy services, and offered general medical consultations.
The outreach demonstrated the value of collaboration between healthcare providers and traditional authorities. The Chakwela Makumbi ceremony, which signifies prayers for good rainfall in the upcoming farming season, brought together the Soli people in one location, creating an ideal opportunity for comprehensive healthcare delivery.
Traditional ceremonies offer unique opportunities for healthcare delivery, as they bring together communities that may otherwise be scattered across remote areas. ZFDS expressed gratitude to Her Royal Highness for recognizing the importance of integrating health services into this significant cultural gathering.
ZFDS continues to coordinate with traditional authorities and Government health structures to identify strategic intervention opportunities, contributing to national efforts toward Universal Health Coverage.
#chamadistrict, #zambiaflyingdoctorservice
02 November 2025
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The transformative impact of the Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) was felt in Chama District, as a specialist surgeon transported from the Copperbelt performed 31 life-changing surgical procedures in just four days as part of an specialized medical outreach.
Specialist Surgeon Dr. Maka Silungwe, based at Roan Antelope General Hospital, was flown into the district by ZFDS to treat patients suffering from conditions that had long remained untreated due to the absence of local specialist surgical services.
The surgical mission delivered immediate relief to several critical cases,these included the following:
* Thyroidectomy Success: A 25-year-old man suffering from a massive anterior neck swelling, which caused difficulty swallowing and breathing when lying flat, underwent a successful subtotal thyroidectomy. He has since made a full recovery.
* Paediatric Surgery: A five-year-old girl with a congenital thyroglossal duct cyst successfully underwent a complex Sistrunk procedure (the complete removal of the cyst, tract, and a section of the hyoid bone). Her recovery was described as uneventful.
Other operations carried out included essential procedures such as hernia repairs, hydrocelectomies, and the excision of ganglions and lipomas, bringing the total number of surgeries performed to 31.
Dr. Silungwe praised the ZFDS for making the outreach possible, highlighting the Service’s logistical support and mandate to fly specialists into hard-to-reach areas.
The surgical mission was part of a wider ZFDS outreach that coincided with the Kwenje Traditional Ceremony in Chipata.
The overall mission saw hundreds of residents benefiting from general medical consultations, dental and eye care, laboratory services, and pharmacy support.
The success of the mission underscores ZFDS’s continued fulfillment of its mandate.
#kwenjetraditionalceremony2025, #universalcoverageforall, #zambiaflyingdoctorservice
02 November 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) has demonstrated President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment to providing equitable healthcare by leveraging its recent recapitalization to deliver emergency and specialized medical services to even the remotest, rain-cut-off areas.
Speaking at the Kwenje Traditional Ceremony in Chama District,Eastern Province on Saturday, ZFDS Chief Executive Officer Dr. George NG'UNI announced that the recapitalization program has transformed the Service operational capacity.
The recapitalization included not only the purchase of modern medical equipment, A Bell 212 helicopter, christened Kenneth David Kaunda (KDK) in honour of Zambia's founding President and first Service Patron, but also a fleet of new vehicles.
Dr. NG’UNI emphasized that the helicopter, seen hovering over Chama and other rural districts, is a tangible delivery on the Government’s promise to strengthen rural healthcare.
"With these tools, we can now reach communities that become inaccessible during the rainy season, including evacuating expectant mothers who develop complications," Dr. NG'UNI said.
This year marked ZFDS’s first-ever participation at the Kwenje Traditional Ceremony, where the Service provided extensive free medical services to hundreds of residents from Chama.
The ZFDS medical team arrived on Tuesday and conducted four days of outreach programs at Chifunda and Chikwa Rural Health Centres before setting up a two-day medical camp at the Kwenje arena.
According to ZFDS Medical Officer Dr. Jonathan Masalo, a total of 1,895 patients received treatment during the outreach.
Services included general consultations, laboratory tests, pharmacy services, dental care, eye services, and 31 surgical operations.
During his visit, Dr. NG’UNI paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Kambombo, who raised concerns about limited access to eye and dental care in remote areas.
The CEO assured the traditional leader that ZFDS would conduct a full-fledged outreach program in Chama to extend its specialized services to more people.
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), ZFDS has also embarked on a mentorship initiative by adopting Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade groups to help deter young people from engaging in early sex and substance abuse.
The colourful ceremony was officiated by Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Hon. Elias Mubanga, and attended by Eastern Province Minister Hon.Peter Phiri, State House Special Advisor to the President Mr. Levy Ngoma, and several traditional leaders.
Dr. NG'UNI thanked President Hichilema for his continued support, saying the recapitalization demonstrates the Government’s belief that “a life in Chama matters just as much as a life in Lusaka.”
In his keynote address, Hon. Mubanga assured the people of Eastern Province of the Government’s commitment to equitable development, while Senior Chief Kambombo appealed for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to harness the district’s natural resources.
The Zambia Flying Doctor Service continues to serve as a lifeline for rural communities, fulfilling its vision of ensuring no life is left behind.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #nyimbaaccident, #medicaloutreach
01 November 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) yesterday ,Friday, October 31, 2025, evacuated a 28-year-old survivor of the tragic road crash at Kacholola, Nyimba District, directly to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.
The urgent transfer was necessitated by the severity of the patient's injuries, which required specialized orthopaedic and trauma intervention only available in lusaka.
The gravity of the crash, which occurred on Thursday of this week, was immediately apparent in the patient's clinical presentation.
Following stabilization at Kalindawalo General Hospital, an urgent request for transfer was issued, detailing the patient's polytrauma—a condition where multiple severe injuries occur simultaneously.
The Kacholola crash, which reportedly involved a passenger vehicle and a bus, has unfortunately recorded numerous casualties, with many other victims still admitted to Nyimba District Hospital.
Authorities are yet to release a consolidated and official casualty list.
The ZFDS ensured rapid transfer using the aircraft, 9J-AGC.
The mission, captained by Lasford Manchisi - ZFDS Director Aviation Services, with co-pilot Chanda Mupangwe, ensured the timely, life-saving care.
The aircraft departed Ndola in the morning and flew into Petauke to pick up the patient before landing at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) at 13:40.
The UTH emergency personnel were ready at ZAF base - Kenneth Kaunda International Airport , immediately transporting the patient by ambulance to the specialist trauma unit for admission and urgent surgical planning.
The successful, specialized air transfer highlights the essential function of the ZFDS in mitigating fatalities and severe disability following major road tragedies across the Country.
#zambiaflyingdoctorservice, #medicalevacuation
31 October 2025
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The Zambia Flying Doctor Service (ZFDS) yesterday successfully carried out an emergency medical evacuation, airlifting an emergency 85-year-old male patient from Ndola Teaching Hospital to Lusaka for urgent and specialized treatment.
The patient was suffering from a myocardial infarction, a life-threatening condition that occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, causing part of the heart muscle to die. He was admitted to Ndola Teaching Hospital on 29 October 2025, where an urgent referral request was made by the hospital’s Head of Clinical Care, Dr. Misa Funjika.
Given the intensity of his condition and the need for advanced cardiac care, a referral to the National Heart Hospital in Lusaka was necessary. Once the emergency request was approved by the Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Technical Services.Dr Kennedy Lishimpi. The ZFDS immediately mobilized its aeromedical response team to coordinate both land and air operations for the quick transfer.
The evacuation was conducted using the ZFDS aircraft registration 9J–AGC, flown by Director of Aviation Services Col. Lasford Manchisi, assisted by Officer Chanda Mumpangwe.
The aircraft departed Ndola at 11:31 hours and landed safely in Lusaka at 12:30hours.
On arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport ZAF Base, an ambulance from the National Heart Hospital was on standby to transfer the patient directly to the facility, where he is now receiving specialized medical care.
The Zambia Flying Doctor Service continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing timely, efficient, and lifesaving aeromedical support from the Ministry of Health.
Through such efforts, the Service remains an essential contributor to the national goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage for all.
The ZFDS team has expressed heartfelt wishes for the patient’s speedy recovery.
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